Secretary Speecheshttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches
Department of Commerce NewsenWritten Testimony by Secretary Penny Pritzker on the U.S. Department of Commerce Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Requesthttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2015/02/26/written-testimony-secretary-penny-pritzker-us-department-commerce
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Thursday, February 26, 2015<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><strong>Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker</strong><br /><strong>Written Testimony on the Commerce Department’s FY 2016 Budget Request Before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science</strong></p><p>Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member Mikulski, and members of the
Subcommittee, thank you for this opportunity to discuss with you President
Obama’s Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Budget Request for the U.S. Department of
Commerce. The investments included in the FY16 Budget request build upon the
important investments you enacted in FY15 and I am grateful for your support.</p>
<p>The Department plays a critical role in promoting U.S.
economic growth and providing vital scientific and environmental information.
To support this mission across its diverse bureaus, the Budget provides $9.8
billion in discretionary funding for Commerce. This funding level will enable
key investments in areas such as promotion of exports and foreign investment;
development of weather satellites; wireless and broadband access; and research
and development to support long-term economic growth. At the same time,
efficiency gains, such as streamlining operations in the Census Bureau and
reductions in lower-priority activities enable Commerce to reduce costs and
operate more efficiently.</p>
<p>The FY16 Budget request reflects and advances the priorities
of the Department’s “Open for Business” Agenda. It maintains our role as the-
voice of business in the Obama Administration by making critical investments in
areas that will grow our economy and create good American jobs. This Budget
prioritizes promoting U.S. trade and investment, spurring high-tech
manufacturing and innovation, unleashing more of our data, and gathering and
acting on environmental intelligence, while also streamlining operations to
help businesses grow. We are committed to working with Congress to achieve
these goals so we can continue to build on our economic momentum and keep
America more competitive in the global economy.</p>
<p>The FY16 Department of Commerce Budget includes key
investments in the following areas:</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Strengthening U.S. Trade and Investment:</strong></span></p>
<p>Increasing trade and investment is critical to growing our
economy. Exports have driven nearly one-third of economic growth since 2009 and
support 11.3 million jobs. 96 percent of companies that export are Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Today, 95 percent of potential customers are outside
our borders and growing the number of export-related jobs, which pay up to 18
percent more on average, will require expanding our ability to reach these
foreign markets.</p>
<p>The Budget includes $497 million for the International Trade
Administration (ITA) to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. industry,
promote job-creating trade and investment, and ensure fair trade through the
rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements. Funding for ITA includes
$15 million to accelerate operations of the Interagency Trade Enforcement
Center (ITEC), a multi-agency effort to address unfair trade practices and
barriers that impede U.S. exports.</p>
<p>The Budget also provides $20 million within ITA to further
strengthen SelectUSA, which is the government-wide effort to promote and
facilitate business investment into the United States. From a vast domestic
market, to a transparent legal system, to the most innovative companies in the world,
America is the place for business. We are very grateful to this Subcommittee
for its past support for this important program. Building upon the successes of
the inaugural SelectUSA Summit in 2013, the Department will host its second
SelectUSA Investment Summit in March 2015. Other funds will support ITA’s
efforts to make it easier for U.S. companies of all sizes to reach consumers
who live beyond our borders, including program and policy improvements to
provide exporters more tailored assistance and to strengthen partnerships at
the state and local level that support export promotion and foreign direct
investment attraction strategies.</p>
<p>The President’s FY16 Budget requests $115 million for the
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Following the successful realignment of
significant license application responsibilities from the Department of State
to BIS, our focus on capacity-building now shifts from export administration to
export enforcement. This level of funding will allow us to increase the number
of enforcement agents within BIS to ensure enforcement of export controls and
compliance-related activities to ensure that exporters and re-exporters are
following our export control regulations.</p>
<p>If we are to ensure that we can export U.S. goods more
quickly, while also ensuring that sensitive technologies do not end up in the
wrong hands, we must be able to educate exporters and re-exporters about our
regulations and their responsibilities, and we must put sufficient teeth into
our enforcement efforts. Strong enforcement levels the playing field for
exporters, while lax enforcement threatens our national security and permits violators to
flourish at the expense of the compliant.</p>
<p>To continue supporting the national growth of minority-owned
U.S. businesses, the Budget includes $30 million for the Minority Business
Development Agency. Minority owned firms make a significant and valuable
contribution to our economy and export at a higher rate compared to all U.S.
firms. This investment will promote further growth and global competitiveness
of our nation’s minority-owned businesses.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Spurring Innovation, Growth and Competitiveness:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing:</strong> As global competition
continues to increase, the United States must find ways to foster the innovation
that produces economic growth and creates well-paying middle-class jobs. A
national effort to create institutes focused on manufacturing innovation will
accelerate development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies
for new products that can compete in international markets. The National
Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) provides a manufacturing research
infrastructure where U.S. industry and academia collaborate to solve
industry-relevant problems. To date, five institutes, funded by the Department
of Defense and the Department of Energy, have been launched, involving more
than 300 companies and universities and attracting $480 million in private
funding in the institutes. NNMI will keep America on the front-lines of
discovery, which will result in our businesses, our manufacturers, and the
American economy becoming more competitive in the 21st century global economy.</p>
<p>The Budget supports the President’s vision of creating a
full national network, expanding NNMI with up to 45 manufacturing innovation
institutes across the nation during the next ten years. In total, the Budget
includes discretionary funding for seven new institutes in FY16, including $140
million for the first two Commerce-led institutes. The Budget also includes an
additional $1.9 billion mandatory proposal to fulfill the President’s vision.
The Budget includes an additional $10 million for the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) to coordinate the activities of the current and
future institutes, leveraging the authorities in the bipartisan Revitalize
American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI), enacted as part of the
Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, thanks to your
support.</p>
<p>The Budget also provides $141 million for NIST’s Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), which will continue to focus on
expanding technology and supply chain capabilities to support technology
adoption by smaller manufacturers to improve their competitiveness.</p>
<p><strong>Supporting 21st Century Economic Development:</strong> Economic
Development creates the conditions for economic growth and improved quality of
life by expanding the capacity of individuals, firms, and communities to
maximize the use of their talents and skills to support innovation, lower
transaction costs, and responsibly produce and trade valuable goods and
services. The Budget invests $273 million for the Economic Development
Administration (EDA) to support innovative economic development planning,
regional capacity building, and capital projects. Within this amount, $25
million is included for the Regional Innovation Strategies Program to promote
economic development projects that spur entrepreneurship and innovation at the
regional level. The EDA Budget also includes $39 million for Partnership
Planning to support local organizations with their long-term economic
development planning efforts and outreach. Additionally, $53 million is
provided for Economic Adjustment Assistance for critical investments such as
economic diversification planning, and implementation, technical assistance,
and access to business start-up facilities and equipment.</p>
<p><strong>Supporting the Digital Economy:</strong> The FY16 Budget request
demonstrates the Administration’s continued commitment to broadband
telecommunications as a driver of economic development, job creation,
technological innovation, and enhanced public safety. The investment of $49.2
million will allow the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration to develop, implement, and advocate policies to help meet
challenges related to the digital economy, Internet openness, privacy, and
security. The President’s broadband vision of freeing up 500 MHz of Federal
spectrum, promoting broadband competition in communities throughout the
country, and connecting over 99 percent of schools to high-speed broadband
connections through the ConnectED initiative will create thousands of quality
jobs and ensure that students have access to the best educational tools
available.</p>
<p>The Budget supports implementation of telecommunications
provisions enacted in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012,
which are expected to reduce the deficit by more than $40 billion over the next
10 years through spectrum auctions. These auctions will increase commercial access
to wireless broadband spectrum while fully funding an interoperable public
safety and first responder broadband network.</p>
<p>Beyond our efforts to promote innovation, the Budget
highlights the Administration’s commitment to cybersecurity by supporting NIST’s
efforts to work with industry on implementing the Cybersecurity Framework of
standards and best practices, as well as sustaining initiatives associated with
cybersecurity automation, cybersecurity information, and the National Strategy
for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC).</p>
<p><strong>Spurring Innovation for American Businesses:</strong> Through
implementation of the America Invents Act, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) continues to make it easier for American entrepreneurs and businesses
to bring their inventions to the marketplace sooner, converting ideas into new
products and new jobs. The Budget supports a program level of $3.5 billion for
USPTO, a level that would allow USPTO to fund operations and to further
implement administrative actions proposed by the President’s Patent Task Force.</p>
<p><strong>Fueling a Data-Driven Economy:</strong> Data is the fuel that powers
the 21st century economy, and Commerce Department data touches every American
and informs business decisions every day. The Budget will support data-related
efforts ranging from our preparations for the 2020 Census to unleashing more
NOAA data through public-private partnerships.</p>
<p><strong>Improving Federal Statistical Measures:</strong> The Budget provides
$1.5 billion to provide critical support for the U.S. Census Bureau to
research, test, and implement innovative design decisions made at the end of
2015. Funding in FY16 supports the rapid system and operational development
necessary to achieve the goal of conducting a Census at a lower cost per
household than in the 2010 Census, potentially saving up to $5 billion compared
to the costs of repeating the 2010 Census design in 2020. The Budget also
includes a planned cyclical increase for the Economic Census. The Budget
includes $10 million in additional funding for the Census Bureau to lay the
ground for acquiring and processing administrative data sets in an
administrative records clearinghouse that will benefit program evaluation and
statistical work across the government as well as amongst private researchers.
The Bureau will accomplish this by building on its existing strengths to
develop a more comprehensive infrastructure for linking, sharing, and analyzing
key datasets.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Gathering and Acting on Environmental Intelligence:</strong></span> The
Department’s environment agenda aims to help communities and businesses prepare
for and prosper in a changing environment through the models, assessments,
forecasts, and tools generated based on data from our network of satellites,
ships, and world-wide sensors.</p>
<p>The Budget provides $6.0 billion to advance the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ability to understand and
anticipate changes in the Earth’s environment, improve society’s ability to
make scientifically informed decisions, deliver vital services to the economy
and public safety, and conserve and manage ocean and coastal ecosystems and
resources. The Budget invests in NOAA’s observational infrastructure, including
$2.4 billion to fully fund NOAA’s weather and space weather satellite programs.
This includes $380 million for the Polar Follow-On satellite program, allowing
for a launch schedule that is necessary to improve the robustness of the
satellite systems that provide critical weather data.</p>
<p>The Department continues its commitment to support a
Weather-Ready Nation, and evolve the National Weather Service to become a more
agile decision support organization capable of providing more accurate and more
timely weather forecasts. The United States has the greatest number and
greatest variety of severe weather events of any country on the planet. The
Budget invests $1.1 billion for the National Weather Service, including funding
increases for critical infrastructure.</p>
<p>The President’s Budget makes investments to fill information
needs in observations, surveys, and fisheries management, including $147
million for a new ocean survey vessel. The Budget also provides $50 million for
an expanded Regional Coastal Resilience Grant Program, which will help reduce
the risks and impacts associated with extreme weather events and changing ocean
conditions and uses, along with $30 million for ocean acidification research to
improve understanding of its impacts and support tool development and adaptive
strategies for affected industries and stakeholders. Additionally, the Budget
requests an increase of $19 million for expanded Endangered Species and
Magnuson Stevens Act consultation capacity that will reduce permitting
timeframes.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Streamlining Operations:</strong></span> To further the President’s goals of
improving customer service and enhancing the efficiency of government, the
Budget includes $6 million to support a Commerce Digital Services team to adopt
private sector best practices and recruit talent to improve Commerce’s
information technology systems. This team will be responsible for driving the
efficiency and effectiveness of the Agency’s highest impact, client focused
information technology systems. In addition, the Budget includes $3 million to
support the development of an “Idea Lab,” which will house a team dedicated to
incubating and investing in innovative approaches to more efficiently and effectively meet Agency
strategic goals and objectives through greater employee engagement.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>With the FY16 Budget, the Department seeks to advance the
core tenets of its mission: to create the conditions for economic growth; help
U.S. businesses expand; and to ensure that America stays competitive, stays
ahead, and continues to lead the global economy in the 21st century. The smart
investments proposed in President’s FY16 Budget will support a globally
competitive economy by promoting trade and investment, spurring innovation,
fueling a data-driven economy, and gathering and acting on environmental
intelligence. With this budget, I am confident that we will keep America “Open
for Business.” I look forward to working with the Committee to achieve these
important goals.</p>Secretary SpeechesCybersecurity FrameworkFY 2016 Budget RequestInteragency Trade Enforcement CenterNational Network for Manufacturing InnovationNational Strategy for Trusted Identities in CyberspaceNIST’s Hollings Manufacturing 4 Extension PartnershipOpen for Business AgendaRegional Innovation Strategies ProgramSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerThu, 26 Feb 2015 17:04:40 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17573 at http://www.commerce.govRemarks from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker at MBDA Stakeholder Summithttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2015/02/25/remarks-us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-mbda-stakeholder-sum
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Wednesday, February 25, 2015<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Remarks as Prepared for Delivery</span></strong></p><p>Thank
you, Alejandra, for the kind
introduction and the outstanding job that you, Albert Shen, and the MBDA team are doing for the minority business
community and for our country.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I
recognize that assembling this esteemed group of thought leaders, issue experts,
business leaders and entrepreneurs was no easy feat. And I want to thank all of
you for joining this MBDA Stakeholder
Summit.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Today is about
YOU:
hearing your ideas, gaining your insights, and developing a plan of action that
empowers more minority firms to grow and thrive in the global economy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
the past year, our businesses have created over 3 million jobs; unemployment is
down; exports are at all-time highs; and GDP is growing at a steady pace.&nbsp;</p>
<p>However,
President Obama’s vision for our economy will remain unfulfilled until our
prosperity extends to all businesses across America – especially minority-owned
firms.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The question for us is, how do we make
our recovery real for all of our communities and companies – especially
minority-owned enterprises?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Everyone
here can agree that we have work to do to close
existing disparities in wealth, wages, and income, and to ensure that
opportunity reaches all of our people and businesses.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Organizing
a summit of this high caliber should be viewed as a chance to address these
challenges, to develop a plan of
action that MBDA can execute on, and to set the priorities for the MBE
community.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As
we meet this charge, we must acknowledge
the reality before MBDA today: this agency faces shrinking budgets,
growing demands on its resources, the demand for better data and faster
technical assistance, and the need to open up more markets domestically and
abroad for minority firms.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
that context, all of us must be creative
and innovative in our actions to strengthen MBDA’s work. We have to prioritize what can actually be
done in the next two years.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
need to work together to
ensure that everyone advocating for MBEs – from MBDA to your organizations to
your colleagues across the country – is adapting to meet the challenges of the
21<sup>st</sup> century.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This
convening – and our action plan for MBDA – should build upon the excellent recommendations of our
National Minority Business Advisory Council, which includes many leaders in
this room. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Our
MBDA team has reviewed all 13 recommendations. Many are timely, and
implementation can start right away; others require your collaboration in order
to get done; and a few ideas, while necessary, may simply be beyond our reach
right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
areas where immediate action is possible, we have begun to make inroads. Let me
highlight three examples.&nbsp;</p>
<p>First,
the Council recommended improving the
bank lending process.&nbsp;</p>
<p>To
meet that goal, MBDA and the Small Business Administration are working on a
“micro-lending seed program” that will provide many of your organizations with
the experience needed to enter other SBA loan initiatives.&nbsp;</p>
<p>At
the same time, we are engaging with the Treasury Department to strengthen
minority-owned banks and MBE contracting.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Each
of these steps, and more to come, will expand access to much-needed capital for
minority firms.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Second,
the Council recommended supporting
minority business expansion in high-growth industries.&nbsp;</p>
<p>To
this end, MBDA is working with NIST, SBA, and the Energy Department on a “Lab
to Market Initiative.” You will hear more about this effort later this
afternoon. &nbsp;</p>
<p>This
program will ensure that more minority-owned enterprises can leverage
government R&amp;D and move new technologies to market.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Keeping
MBEs at the forefront of innovation and advanced manufacturing will empower
these businesses to grow in size and scale in the industries of tomorrow.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Third,
the Council called on us to identify
an entity or institution with better analytical capabilities.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
need more and better data to inform MBDA’s efforts. And in June, we expect the
results of the 2012 Survey of Business Owners (SBO). &nbsp;</p>
<p>In
preparation for the SBO data, by June, MBDA will develop a three-year data and
research agenda to improve how we collect information on MBEs and to show us
what is needed to better support these enterprises.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But
our work is not stopping here. We know that we need to make the SBO data more
timely.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Earlier
this month, the Census Bureau and the Kauffman Foundation announced a new joint
effort to modernize and enrich the SBO – to offer us better insights and richer
data – on MBEs and all businesses – more frequently.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Alejandra
and her team will continue to put the highest priority, most impactful
recommendations into practice. Yet, as I noted earlier, there are some
suggestions that may be too hard to tackle.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For
instance, the Council called for the consolidation
of minority business programs into a new, independent agency.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This
is the sort of innovative idea you would expect from the private sector, and it
certainly fits into President Obama’s broader efforts to reorganize federal
agencies.&nbsp;</p>
<p>However,
any effort to restructure government offices requires congressional approval, which is unlikely any time soon.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That
is why we must focus on steps that
leverage all of our talent, resources, and reach. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Today’s
agenda covers a lot of ground, but it will ensure that we accomplish our goals,
develop clear outcomes, and set out realistic timelines. To that end, MBDA will
continue:&nbsp;</p>
<ul><li>To play a
central role in federal policies that shape MBE contracting;</li><li>To develop
programs that build technical capacity through closer collaboration with other
federal agencies; and</li><li>To lead
initiatives that keep MBEs at the forefront of fields like advanced
manufacturing, high-tech, clean energy, and more.</li></ul>
<p>Yet
MBDA’s efforts are not enough on their own. They must be supplemented and
amplified by the work of the businesses and organizations you represent.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
need all of you to view this summit as a call
to action – as an opportunity to help further shape MBDA’s agenda to
empower MBEs.</p>
<p>During
every portion of the day, we want you to provide concrete input on every topic
on the table:&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
want to know what steps are needed to enable MBEs to deal with changing demographic and economic
factors in America.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
want tangible actions to deal with the changing role of supplier diversity and increased
competition for corporate support.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
need you to use our two-session town hall today to share best practices and identify exactly what you will do
in the next 18 months to advance our shared cause of minority business
empowerment.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
urge you to use the final session of the summit – titled “Show Me the Funding” – to learn about financing
opportunities from EDA, SBA, NIST, and other federal agencies.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With
your ideas, leadership, and partnership, this gathering must present a clear
plan of action that can be achieved and measured at different interval during
the next 18 months.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
want to hear your perspective on the outlook for minority-owned enterprises
today and in the years to come.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We
want you to work with our teams at the Commerce Department and MBDA to retool
our minority business economic agenda and promote minority entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Because,
as you know better than anyone, your success is vital to the growth of our economy and the competitiveness of our country.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Today,
America is becoming more diverse.
And I firmly believe that our economy and country are stronger when we use 100 percent of our talent.&nbsp;</p>
<p>You
understand this fact better than anyone – because you are on the front lines.&nbsp;</p>
<p>You
are our allies. You know what
we need to do to expand opportunity
for entrepreneurs and business people of every race and background. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>And
we need your leadership, your
experience, your expertise, and your
collaboration to ensure the United States remains open for all of our country’s
businesses.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thank
you again for taking part in this year’s MBDA Stakeholder Summit, and I wish
you all the best for a successful day.&nbsp;</p>Secretary SpeechesLab to Market InitiativeMBDA Stakeholder SummitNational Minority Business Advisory CouncilMinority Business Development AgencySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 25 Feb 2015 15:35:12 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17565 at http://www.commerce.govRemarks from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker at the Kauffman Foundation's 2015 State of Entrepreneurship Addresshttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2015/02/11/remarks-us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-kauffman-foundations
<div><p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Wednesday, February 11, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p></div><div>Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker delivered remarks on the leadership of the Department of Commerce and the entire Obama Administration in promoting entrepreneurship across the United States at the 2015 State of Entrepreneurship Address, hosted by the Kauffman Foundation. The remarks were delivered to various business leaders, experts, non-profits, and government officials to address the impact and importance of America’s entrepreneurs in our country’s economy.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As the driving force behind the Administration’s focus on entrepreneurship, the Department of Commerce partners with businesses to set the conditions for innovators and new businesses to test new ideas, take risks, find financing and customers, and ultimately thrive. Many of the Department’s core responsibilities help create the essential infrastructure of opportunity for entrepreneurs – whether issuing patents that protect intellectual property, making investments in local economic development, collecting and disseminating data to inform better decision making, expanding access to broadband, or protecting a free and open internet.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In her remarks, Secretary Pritzker discussed key ways that the Department of Commerce is working to support entrepreneurship at home and abroad: from the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship to the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation to efforts to build regional ecosystems across the nation. The Department is dedicated to unleashing the power of the American entrepreneur.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In addition, the Secretary highlighted two new efforts. First, the Startup Global pilot program will feature a series of incubators in Cincinnati, Nashville, Arlington, TX, and Washington, D.C., where entrepreneurs can get technical assistance with how to export. Second, the new partnership between the Census Bureau and the Kauffman Foundation will help improve the way entrepreneurship is measured and enable the federal government to gain a better understanding of the dynamics and challenges faced by U.S. entrepreneurs.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Remarks as Prepared for Delivery</span></strong></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thank you, Wendy Guillies, for your introduction. I want to thank the Kauffman Foundation for your stellar work studying and promoting entrepreneurship in the United States.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>I also want to acknowledge all of the business leaders, experts, non-profits, and government officials here, including:</div><ul><li>Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, an Army veteran and a key voice of a new generation in Congress; and</li><li>Congressmen Jared Polis and John Delaney, both bringing the perspective of entrepreneurs to the House of Representatives.&nbsp;</li></ul><div>I join you today as Secretary of Commerce and as President Obama’s point person on entrepreneurship. But first and foremost, I am an entrepreneur myself. I spent 27 years in the private sector and started 5 businesses. I understand what it is like to have a concept, but not know how to turn it into a business plan or into an entity that can attract funding. I understand the fear and excitement of starting a new business and trying to attract talent when you have no revenue, no customers – just an idea. I understand what it means to adapt and modify your product to meet market demands – and then have the market change. It is both terrifying and exhilarating to be an entrepreneur. I was fortunate to have the guidance, mentorship, capital, and fortitude to succeed. But that is a rare situation.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Our entire Administration wants to ensure that all of our entrepreneurs have the best opportunity to succeed – because start-ups are key sources of economic growth and job creation. In fact, across a wide range of sectors and regions, entrepreneurs and small business owners have generated more than 65 percent of net new jobs over the last two decades. And start-ups in high-tech hubs alone account for over 40 percent of new jobs each year – despite comprising only 1 percent of all businesses. As President Obama has said, entrepreneurship is one of our country’s greatest assets. And as all of you in this room know, entrepreneurship is an essential – and fundamental – ingredient in our nation’s economic prosperity.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>From the President to the Department of Commerce to the entire Administration, we know that government has a critical role to play in supporting America’s entrepreneurs. Our government does not create new companies. But we can help set the conditions for entrepreneurs, like you, to take risks, to collaborate, to find financial support, to find customers, and, ultimately, to thrive. Our job is to implement smart programs, institute smart policies, and make smart investments. Our job is to be a catalyst – by helping communities build capacity to bring new inventions to market and by ensuring businesses have the tools to innovate and grow.</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>Our job is to support and maintain a strong infrastructure of opportunity including:</div><ul><li>A strong education system;</li><li>A skilled workforce;</li><li>The rule of law;</li><li>Strategic investments in R&amp;D;</li><li>Intellectual property protections;</li><li>Access to traditional and innovative forms of capital;</li><li>Access to high-speed internet; and</li><li>A culture and legal system with a high tolerance for risk-taking – and where failure can be a stepping stone to success. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><div>I am proud that the Department of Commerce serves as the driving force behind the Administration’s focus on entrepreneurship – and that our core responsibilities include supporting start-ups and empowering entrepreneurs.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Every day at our Department:</div><ul><li>We issue patents that protect intellectual property.</li><li>We make investments in local economic development that support incubators and accelerators, where entrepreneurs can develop their concepts and start putting their ideas into practice.</li><li>We collect and disseminate data that informs better decision-making and helps build businesses.</li><li>We work to expand access to broadband and to protect a free and open internet – which is an absolute necessity for any firm in the 21st century.&nbsp;</li></ul><div>Since becoming Secretary, my team and I have expanded our work.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>For example, to inspire the next generation, I am proud to chair the PAGE initiative. Since the launch of PAGE last spring, our dynamic ambassadors have been everywhere.&nbsp;</div><ul><li>I joined Steve Case on his “Rise of the Rest Bus Tour,” which raised the profile of entrepreneurship in nine up-and-coming startup U.S. cities.</li><li>Daphne Koller is creating a free entrepreneurship curriculum through her company, Coursera.</li><li>Tory Burch is working to provide female entrepreneurs with access to affordable loans and networking opportunities.</li><li>Hamdi Ulukaya started the Chobani Food Incubator, a program to invest in and cultivate emerging food entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</li></ul><div>The list could go on. In the coming months, we will announce the expansion of PAGE – bringing new voices and initiatives into the fold to empower the next wave of entrepreneurs in the U.S. and across the globe.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Next, to provide companies with access to cutting-edge technology, our Department leads the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, or NNMI. This initiative creates ecosystems, where industry, academia, and government come together to help local manufacturers not only propose new ideas, but scale and implement their latest innovations. From 3D printing to lightweight metals to photonics, NNMI can, and will, ensure that our entrepreneurs stay competitive in the global economy – and shape the next wave of advanced manufacturing in the 21st century.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>To bring the best ideas to the table at the Commerce Department, we re-established the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where top academics, business and non-profit leaders offer advice on innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-driven skills training. In the group’s first meeting in December, these leaders identified tough issues to tackle, such as: how to better define and measure innovation; what the future of business incubation looks like; and how to modernize labor market data to help entrepreneurs find the talent they need to grow.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Finally, to strengthen America’s entrepreneurial ecosystems, our Economic Development Administration leads the Regional Innovation Strategies competition. This program advances innovation and capacity-building activities in regions across the country. This initiative provides grants to reinforce infrastructure through feasibility and planning studies for science and research parks; invests in centers that help entrepreneurs move early-stage ideas from the garage and lab to production and sales; and expands access to early stage capital by increasing the flow of seed funding to promising startups.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>To give one example, this effort enabled Georgia Tech to create a new center where entrepreneurs have resources to turn early-stage medical devices into prototypes that can attract capital and customers. In Georgia and nationwide, these investments help entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable companies.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In addition to these existing efforts, in the coming months, we will kick off the Startup Global pilot program in Cincinnati; Nashville; Arlington, Texas; and Washington, D.C. This initiative will help entrepreneurs and early-stage companies to think global from day one by providing the know-how and technical assistance they need in order to export their goods and services. Startup Global will expand our International Trade Administration’s client base to include startups – a critical part of ensuring that Commerce partners with American firms, whether small businesses, medium-sized enterprises, or large multinationals.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Today, we are strengthening our work through a new partnership between the Census Bureau and the Kauffman Foundation. The goal of this partnership is to improve the way our government tracks entrepreneurship. Through this effort:</div><ul><li>Census and Kauffman will modernize and enrich the Survey of Business Owners.</li><li>Census will conduct the survey every year, instead of every 5 years. And rather than wait 3 years to publish the data, we will release it more frequently.</li><li>This information will provide critical insights into the health of companies of all sizes, as well as tell us how firms are financed, how they conduct R&amp;D, how they improve the production process, and how they innovate in general.&nbsp;</li></ul><div>This partnership between Kauffman and Census is one way that government can work with you to better measure, understand and, thereby, promote entrepreneurship.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At Commerce, we will continue to do our part. However, we want your continued guidance on where the federal government should improve and where we should get out of the way.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>We want your ideas. For example, what can we do to help small businesses and self-employed Americans hire at least one person? How can we get more capital flowing to promising firms? Where are opportunities to solidify regional strengths? How can we ensure more companies use our data to create jobs, and how can we empower more Americans with the skills and training they need to succeed?</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Working together, we can shape the next great era of American entrepreneurship and innovation.&nbsp;To best incorporate your ideas, I want you all to meet Josh Mandell, my Senior Adviser for Innovation, who is here today. Please use him as a resource for incorporating feedback into our policy.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Despite all of the challenges we face today, the ingenuity, creativity, and optimism of our country’s entrepreneurs give us hope.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As Commerce Secretary, I have seen the entrepreneurial spirit in Missoula, Montana, where a former music professor turned his passions for coffee and product design into a multi-million dollar company called Liquid Planet; in Cincinnati, Ohio, where programmers are working on ways to better plan road trips across America; in Phoenix, Arizona, where two young people used Kickstarter to develop a new shovel handle that has turned into a company supplying an entire product line of ergonomic tools.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>I saw this spirit at The Idea Village in New Orleans, a business-led effort to cultivate the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.&nbsp;The leaders of this incubator gave me one of my most prized possessions, a sign that sums up the true spirit of entrepreneurship: “trust your crazy ideas.”</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>That spirit has defined our nation’s history – carried forward by everyone from Ben Franklin to Steve Jobs to Elizabeth Holmes. That willingness to trust crazy ideas has been a source of strength to our economy. That courage – to try new inventions, even at the risk of failure; to challenge convention, even if you do not succeed at first; to dream big and ultimately achieve your goals – that is what makes our entrepreneurs agents of change and the living embodiments of the American dream.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thank you to the Kauffman Foundation. And thank you all for coming together today to discuss the current state and future of entrepreneurship.</div>Secretary SpeechesKaufman FoundationNational Advisory Council on Innovation and EntrepreneurshipNational Network for Manufacturing InnovationNNMIPAGEPresidential Ambassadors for Global EntrepreneurshipRegional Innovation StrategiesSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 11 Feb 2015 18:17:40 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17521 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Conclude 25TH Session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Tradehttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/18/us-commerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-us-trade-representative-mich
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Thursday, December 18, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p>
<p>Today marked the conclusion of the 25<sup>th</sup> session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT).
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and United States Trade
Representative Michael Froman, the two U.S. co-chairs of JCCT, held a
press conference at the end of the event to highlight some of the
specific progress that was made at the meeting.&nbsp;
</p>
<p>Secretary Pritzker announced meaningful progress on key elements of the
U.S.-China commercial relationship including&nbsp;geographical indicators and
agreeing to work together to combat illegal, unreported, and
unregulated fishing.&nbsp;She also highlighted progress made on medical and
pharmaceutical issues, three United States-produced seeds for
agriculture, and fairer enforcement of China’s anti-monopoly law, among
others. But she&nbsp;also underscored that much more work remains to be done
to open China’s market to U.S. exports and investment.&nbsp;She also spoke
about the decision to “reimagine” this year's JCCT to involve private
sector leaders from both the U.S. and China to share their expertise and
experiences operating in one another’s respective markets.</p>
<p>Established in 1983, the JCCT is the
primary forum for addressing bilateral trade and investment issues and
promoting commercial opportunities between the United States and China.
High-level plenary meetings are held annually and are co-chaired by the
U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, and
the Chinese Vice Premier in charge of trade and investment issues.
Sixteen JCCT Working Groups meet throughout the year to address topics
such as intellectual property rights, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and
medical devices, information technology, and travel and tourism.<strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"> <br /></span></strong></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Remarks As Prepared for Delivery by Secretary Pritzker</span></em></strong></p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">Good afternoon.&nbsp;This is the 25<sup>th</sup> meeting of the JCCT, but it is the first meeting of what we are calling the reimagined JCCT. &nbsp;</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">When this dialogue was first launched
more than 30 years ago, our two-way annual trade of goods totaled less
than $5 billion. Today, our trade relationship has grown to $617
billion, and we are the two largest economies in the world.</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">Before I discuss some of our specific
progress, let me just say this: it is always good to be home. Mayor
Emanuel and the Chicago business and civic community have welcomed our
delegations with open arms. From Garrett’s Popcorn to the Art Institute,
the city has helped make this week truly special. For that, we are
grateful.</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">I would also like to take a moment to thank my partner in this reimagining endeavor, Ambassador Mike Froman. &nbsp;</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">Together, the two of us, along with
Vice Premier Wang Yang, committed to building a more dynamic and
effective economic dialogue between the United States and China. And it
has worked. We have had a very productive two days. We have reason to be
proud of what our teams have achieved.</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">Yesterday, we had the opportunity to
hear from our respective private sectors. And today, our goal was to
keep their thoughts and insights in mind during our
government-to-government dialogue.&nbsp;I think we did just that. &nbsp;</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">In preparation for these discussions,
our deputies and their teams dedicated themselves to achieving outcomes
that matched our ambitious vision.</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">Before we even arrived in Chicago for
the plenary session, we had made progress in a number of critical areas
– including geographical indicators and agreeing to work together to
combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.&nbsp;Since arriving in
Chicago, we have made progress on medical and pharmaceutical issues,
three United States-produced seeds for agriculture, and fairer
enforcement of China’s anti-monopoly law, among others.</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">Each of these areas is important to
U.S. companies.&nbsp;But none of this is to say that we got all of the
outcomes we wanted or that the outcomes we got are perfect.&nbsp;We continue
to have more work to do on each of these issues, on the JCCT itself, and
on our economic relationship.</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">This has been a productive two days.
While difficult to quantify, there was a renewed spirit and effort in
this year’s JCCT on both sides, and I look forward to continuing to
improve this dialogue in the months and years to come.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline;">Before I turn it over to my terrific
partner, I want to take a moment to thank our other partners in this
event: Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack and U.S. Ambassador to
China, Max Baucus.&nbsp;Without their commitment and energy, this reimagining
could never have come to life.</p>Secretary SpeechesJCCTU.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and TradeOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerFri, 19 Dec 2014 01:25:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17350 at http://www.commerce.govRemarks from U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on the Importance of Stronger U.S.-China Economic Tieshttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/17/remarks-us-commerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-importance-stronger-
<p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Wednesday, December 17, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p>On
the eve of the 25th Session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and
Trade (JCCT), U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker delivered keynote
remarks at the Shared Vision for Global Economic Partnership event hosted by
the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. </p>
<p>U.S.
Trade Representative Michael Froman and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang also
spoke at the event. Following their remarks, the three co-chairs of the JCCT
participated in an armchair discussion with Ambassador Ivo Daalder, President
of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs about the opportunities for further
trade and investment between our two nations.</p>
<p>Secretary
Pritzker’s remarks focused on the importance of the U.S.-China commercial
relationship and the need to strengthen that partnership. She also spoke about
the decision to “reimagine” the JCCT this year to involve the private sector.
The Shared Vision for Global Economic Partnership event is one of several
events today aimed at bringing American and Chinese private sector leaders
together with government leaders to share their expertise and experiences
operating in one another’s respective markets.</p>
<p>Earlier
today, Secretary Pritzker highlighted the productive relationship enjoyed by
the U.S. and China with respect to the travel and tourism sector during a
speech at the Travel and Tourism Cooperative Program hosted by the U.S. Travel
Association. Her remarks are available <a href="/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/17/us-commerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-travel-and-tourism-between-u">here</a>.</p>
<p>Secretary
Pritzker pointed to the recently announced U.S.-China Visa Validity Agreement
as proof of the success of this relationship. Last month, President Obama and
President Xi announced an agreement to extend the validity of tourist and
business visas from 1 to 10 years and student visas from 1 to 5 years. With
this change in visa policy, 7.3 million Chinese visitors are expected to travel
to the U.S. by 2021 -- contributing nearly $8.5 billion per year to the economy
and supporting as many as 440,000 jobs.</p>
<p>Secretary
Pritzker also highlighted the need to take additional steps to support the
increased travel demand that will accompany the visa validity extension,
including the expansion of airline capacity and infrastructure investment.<strong><em> <br /></em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Remarks As
Prepared for Delivery</em></strong></p>
<p>We are here to discuss the
U.S.-China economic relationship, and we will. But there is significant news
from the Administration today about our ties with Cuba. I want to take a moment
to say a few words on this announcement before addressing the business at-hand:</p>
<p>These historic actions by
the President chart a new course for our country's relationship with Cuba and
its people.</p>
<p>It will improve the lives of
millions and will help spur long overdue economic and political reform across
the country.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Expanding economic
engagement between the Cuban people and the American business community will be
a powerful catalyst that will strengthen human rights and the rule of law.</p>
<p>President Obama and I
believe deeply in the power of commercial diplomacy to change lives and
economies for the better. </p>
<p>Everyone deserves an
opportunity to increase prosperity for themselves and their families, and to
that end, I look forward to visiting Cuba to lead our efforts to expand our
commercial diplomacy as part of the President’s initiative to encourage
positive change in Cuba.</p>
<p>I am proud that the
Department of Commerce is playing an integral role in this historic policy
change. This is a moment of opportunity for our country, but so is the
reimagined JCCT.&nbsp; Notwithstanding this remarkable news, our economic
partnership with China is our focus today. Thank you, Ambassador Froman, for
your introduction and for working so closely with me and our team at the
Commerce Department to make this year’s re-imagined JCCT a reality. Thank you
to Vice Premier Wang Yang for your partnership, for your friendship, and for
your commitment to strengthening the U.S.-China economic relationship. And
thank you to Ambassador Ivo Daalder and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs
for hosting this event and for your work to educate and influence the public
discourse on today’s most pressing global issues.</p>
<p>The success of the
U.S.-China commercial relationship is critical to global economic growth and
stability. </p><ul><li>Our two markets are the largest on the planet – we account for
nearly 35 percent of global GDP.</li><li>Together, our populations total more than 1.6 billion people –
just shy of a quarter of the planet.</li><li>And combined U.S. and China trade in goods and services add up to
about one-fifth of all international trade.</li></ul>
<p>If you step back and
consider these statistics, it is difficult to overstate the importance of our
bilateral economic relationship – to each other and to the global economy. That
means there is pressure on us – on Ambassador Froman, on Vice Premier Wang, and
on me – to deliver. </p>
<p>To quote Confucius, “our
responsibility is heavy and our road is long.” For us, that long road must
guide us toward a deeper, more effective U.S.-China relationship. Meeting here
in Chicago – in the “City of Broad Shoulders” – the responsibility falls on OUR
shoulders to lead: to deepen strategic trust and build a stronger partnership
between our countries and our respective business communities. That partnership
demands mutual respect – and must produce tangible results that yield mutual
benefits. That partnership requires action – because, as my mother used to tell
me, “actions speak louder than words.”</p>
<p>This year’s JCCT represents
a moment of extraordinary opportunity. But it is also a moment for us to be
honest and frank about the challenges before our governments and our business
communities. Friends and partners do not always agree, but they do speak candidly
to each other. For the past 20 years, we have witnessed an unabashed rush to
invest in China. Businesses saw a massive market for American goods and
services, a growing middle class, and affordable production platforms.
Recently, though, that rush has slowed. Foreign companies are starting to
approach the Chinese market with greater caution. This fall, foreign direct
investment into China slumped to a four-year low. </p>
<p>The question is, what has
changed? </p>
<p>The market has not suddenly
dried up. Demand still exists and China’s economy is growing. But concerns
about sanctity of contracts, transparency, rule of law, intellectual property
protections, and other issues are beginning to take their toll. To some extent,
the challenges facing China are not unique. Global competition for investment
has become more intense. Foreign companies need to know they are on equal
footing with domestic companies if governments want to draw their capital. None
of us can rest on our laurels and expect future prosperity. None of us can
assume that just because our country was an attractive place to invest five
years ago, it will remain an attractive destination five years from now.</p>
<p>Vice Premier Wang,
Ambassador Froman, and I understand these dynamics. We understand that the JCCT
is a forum where we can convey the concerns of our private sectors to each
other and where we can take steps that help both of our countries enhance our
competitiveness. This ambition is what prompted the three of us – during a tea
break at last year’s JCCT in Beijing – to begin re-considering how the JCCT
works. We all recognized the need to bring this event into the 21st century. I
believe the Vice Premier captured the sentiment well in a recent letter to
Ambassador Froman and me, where he said, “both sides need to determine how best
to improve the JCCT and thereby unleash its full utility.”</p>
<p>Our re-imagined JCCT will
continue to serve as a cornerstone of our bilateral economic relationship, but
it will also serve as a platform for government leaders to hear from the
business community. To that end, we have asked American and Chinese private
sector leaders to join us here in Chicago for a number of events – to share
their expertise and to tell us about the opportunities and obstacles to doing
more business together. This will be a broader dialogue than ever before.&nbsp;
It will feature government-to-government, business-to-business, AND
business-to-government discussions.&nbsp; It is only the second time this event
is being held outside Beijing or Washington, DC. By listening to the voice of
business, we are putting the “commerce” back into the Joint Commission on
Commerce and Trade. </p>
<p>Notwithstanding all of these
changes, our basic goal remains unchanged: promoting more openness, trade, and
commerce between the United States and China. Over the course of three decades,
we have seen what is possible as China opened its doors to global commerce: in
that time, approximately 600 million Chinese people have been lifted out of
poverty. That is nearly twice the total U.S. population. American companies
have contributed to China’s extraordinary economic success by working
hand-in-hand with Chinese partners. From improving water filtration processes
to assisting low-income farmers to delivering state-of-the-art equipment to
Chinese hospitals, the technology and expertise of U.S. firms helped improve
the lives of millions of people across China. </p>
<p>The benefits of openness
have not just flowed in one direction. In recent years, Chinese investment in
the United States has grown dramatically, and we want to encourage even more.
Over the last few years, Chinese investment in the United States has grown more
rapidly than from any other country. Today, Chinese direct investment supports
more than 14,000 American jobs. So…with so many Chinese business leaders here
this evening, let me say ‘thank you.’ </p>
<p>The JCCT should be the
setting for us to build on exactly that kind of progress. But it is not the
only vehicle to strengthen our relationship. Another opportunity will come in
April, when U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and I will lead what some are
calling a ‘super trade mission’ to China.&nbsp; This will be the first Commerce
trade mission featuring two cabinet members in over a decade. Our visit will
focus on expanding U.S.-China clean energy cooperation. We will explore
opportunities for American businesses to support smart cities and smart growth
in China, through areas such as green building and transit, energy retrofitting
and energy efficiency, clean air and water technologies, and more.</p>
<p>It is hard to imagine this
particular trade mission coming at a more opportune moment in our history. Just
a few weeks ago, Presidents Obama and Xi reached a landmark agreement to tackle
climate change through mutual commitments to reduce emissions.</p>
<p>This was not the only
break-through announcement from the president’s recent trip to China. Our
presidents also agreed to extend the validity of tourist and business visas
from 1 to 10 years, and student visas from 1 to 5 years. This visa agreement
will:</p>
<ul><li>Increase travel and tourism between our countries;</li><li>Produce extraordinary benefits for our economies; and </li><li>Enhance personal connections between our young people, our
families, and our communities.</li></ul>
<p>Both of these accords will
have ripple effects for many years to come. They will leave behind a positive
legacy for this generation of Chinese and American leaders.</p>
<p>In many ways, our reimagined
JCCT is an opportunity for us – the JCCT co-chairs – to build a positive legacy
as well. It is an opportunity for us to create a legacy of cooperation,
respect, and stronger U.S.-China economic ties. Leaving this legacy will require
a tremendous amount of work – this week and going forward. But if we succeed, I
believe we can make the JCCT into a more effective mechanism. We can use the
JCCT to promote more commerce; to deepen trust; and to address real business
challenges.</p>
<p>This is an opportunity; now,
it is up to us to seize it.</p>
<p>Thank you for joining
us.&nbsp; I look forward to a productive meeting tomorrow and to the continued
evolution of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.</p>
<p>Now, it is my honor and
privilege to introduce our partner in the effort to take our countries’
relationship to the next level, and someone I consider a friend: Vice Premier
Wang Yang. In his previous post in Guangdong, the Vice Premier built a legacy
of transparency in local government. Now, as China’s point person on commerce,
trade, tourism, agriculture, and more, he is working to establish a national
legacy – of greater openness and engagement in the global economy.</p>
<p>Ladies and gentlemen, please
join me in welcoming a great leader and champion for a deeper U.S.-China
economic partnership: Vice Premier Wang Yang.</p>Secretary SpeechesJCCTU.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and TradeOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerThu, 18 Dec 2014 01:10:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17343 at http://www.commerce.govRemarks from U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on Travel and Tourism Between the U.S. and Chinahttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/17/remarks-us-commerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-travel-and-tourism-b
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Wednesday, December 17, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p>U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny
Pritzker highlighted the productive travel and tourism sector relationship
enjoyed by the U.S. and China during a speech at the Travel and Tourism
Cooperative Program hosted by the U.S. Travel Association earlier today.&nbsp;
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Vice Premier Wang Yang also spoke
at the event. The Travel and Tourism Cooperative Program was one of the many
side events with private sector companies taking place around the JCCT
negotiations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>During her remarks, Secretary
Pritzker pointed to the recently announced U.S.-China Visa Validity Agreement
as proof of the success of this relationship. Last month, President Obama and
President Xi announced an agreement to extend the validity of tourist and
business visas from 1 to 10 years and student visas from 1 to 5 years. With
this change in visa policy, 7.3 million Chinese visitors are expected to travel
to the U.S. by 2021 -- contributing nearly $8.5 billion per year to the economy
and supporting as many as 440,000 jobs.</p>
<p>Secretary Pritzker also addressed
the need to take additional steps to support the increased travel demand that
will accompany the visa validity extension, including the expansion of airline
capacity and infrastructure investment. </p><p>##########</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Remarks As Prepared for Delivery</span> </p><p>Thank
you, Roger, for the kind introduction, for being such a great leader for the
travel and tourism industry, and for your partnership in hosting this event.</p>
<p>Historically,
the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade has been an opportunity for
government-to-government discussions on trade and investment issues between the
United States and China. </p>
<p>But
this year, for the first time, we decided to bring the voice of business to the
table on the margins of the plenary – to listen to the ideas and insights of
the private sector and to use their expertise to inform our policy discussions
and decisions.</p>
<p>Given
the importance of travel and tourism to both our countries – as an engine for
economic growth, as a model for collaboration, as a source of mutual
understanding and respect – it is absolutely essential that this industry play
a central role in our reimagined vision for JCCT. </p>
<p>Indeed,
Ambassador Froman and I were very happy when Vice Premier Wang suggested we
focus our collaborative efforts this year on the travel sector. </p>
<p>Travel
and tourism represents big business for the United States. Today, I am pleased
to announce that international visitor spending totaled $18.5 billion in
October 2014 alone, and China is a huge contributor to those numbers, as the
fastest growing market for inbound travelers to the U.S. In fact, travel and
tourism from China represents 56 percent of all service exports for the United
States.</p>
<p>This
was not always the case; not long ago, travel and tourism took a back seat to
other pressing issues and did not garner the attention it deserved.</p>
<p>That
changed in 2007. At that time, the United States and China signed a memorandum
of understanding at the annual meeting of the JCCT allowing packaged leisure
travel from China to the United States. We look forward to the full
implementation of the MOU. Our countries set a target of 5 million people
traveling between our two countries. Today, I am pleased to say that we have
all but met that goal.</p>
<p>Yet,
despite our remarkable progress in recent years, there is still far more to do
to increase travel between the United States and China. I know President Obama
and President Xi agree – and their recent actions are proof of their shared
commitment to this sector. </p>
<p>Just
a few weeks ago, our presidents announced a significant agreement to strengthen
our ties in travel and tourism –by extending the validity of tourist and
business visas from 1 to 10 years, and student visas from 1 to 5 years. What
this means is: starting now, American and Chinese travelers will not have to
apply for a new visa each year, making travel easier and less costly.</p>
<p>This
is a big deal. With the change in our visa policy, we expect up to 7.3 million
Chinese visitors to travel to the U.S. in 2021 – contributing nearly $85
billion per year to our economy and supporting as many as 440,000 jobs. This is
four times the economic and job impact as today. Indeed, this agreement could
do more for the U.S.-China relationship, for mutual understanding between our
nations, communities, and peoples, than nearly any other policy change.</p>
<p>But
if we are really going to capture the value of this policy development here in
the United States, we have more work to do.<strong> </strong>We must work to meet the
increased demand that will accompany the visa validity extension – by: ensuring
that we have airline capacity; investing in infrastructure that can handle the
increase in visitors; collecting updated market intelligence; and expanding
market access for the sale of outbound travel. </p>
<p>Today’s
event is all about accelerating travel and connections between our two
countries and mapping the road ahead.</p>
<p>I
encourage you to use this event in a real and productive way – by highlighting
not only opportunities, but addressing the challenges to increasing travel and
tourism between our countries.</p>
<p>I
hope you will set ambitious goals for our travel and tourism agenda – and push
those of us in government to take concrete steps to meet them.</p>
<p>I
urge you to focus on what we can do to promote more travel between our
countries. Your work will advance greater understanding between our peoples and
expand cooperation, spurring growth and prosperity in both the United States
and China.</p>
<p>Thank
you all for being here today, and for your meaningful contribution to this
important bilateral relationship.</p>Secretary SpeechesJCCTTravel and tourismU.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and TradeOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 17 Dec 2014 22:30:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17340 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Preview Upcoming U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Tradehttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/12/us-commerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-us-trade-representative-mich
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Friday, December 12, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p>Today,
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael
Froman previewed the upcoming U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade
(JCCT). </p>
<p>From
December 16-18, Secretary Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael
Froman will host a high-level Government of China delegation in Chicago, and
for the first time, the
JCCT schedule includes a full day of events designed to facilitate private
sector engagement with officials from the U.S. and Chinese governments. U.S.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will also participate. The goal of this
enhanced program is to expand the scope of the JCCT with engagement between
businesses from both countries. </p>
<p>Established
in 1983, the JCCT is the primary forum for addressing bilateral trade and
investment issues and promoting commercial opportunities between the United
States and China. High-level plenary meetings are held annually and are
co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade
Representative, and the Chinese Vice Premier in charge of trade and investment
issues. Sixteen JCCT Working Groups meet throughout the year to address topics
such as intellectual property rights, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and medical
devices, information technology, and travel and tourism.</p>
<p><strong><em>Remarks as
Delivered by Secretary Pritzker</em></strong></p>
<p>For
the first time, we are hosting this in Chicago. We’ve chosen a location outside
of Washington as part of our effort to reimagine and reinvigorate the JCCT.
We’ve also invited our respective business communities to attend. The event
will include aside from the formal part of JCCT, strategic conversations on
issues such as foreign direct investment, travel and tourism, and excess
capacity. </p>
<p>We
chose Chicago because it’s home to more than 1,800 foreign companies from 45
countries that employ more than 22,000 people. </p>
<p>As
you know as well, Chicago has the most diversified economy in the United States
with no single industry employing more than 14% of the city’s workforce. There
are strong ties between the United States and China, and Chicago has
particularly strong ties with an estimated 40 mainland China-owned companies in
greater Chicago and 150 Chicago area companies with locations in mainland
China. Illinois companies also export 5.6 billion dollars in goods and services
to China in 2013, so we thought this would be a perfect location for the
reimagined JCCT. </p>
<p>The
goal of the JCCT is to build upon the President’s recent visit to China and meetings
with President Xi, where they agreed to deepen our economic ties and enhance
our bilateral engagements, so this is an effort to build on the success of the
President’s trip. The JCCT is a time and place for the Administration’s
economic team to take center stage in addressing issues and work on issues so
that we can have more business done between our two countries. </p>
<p>Today,
China is our third largest export market. We sold $161 billion of goods and
services to China in 2013, and it’s our fourth largest market for services
exports. Our total bilateral trade relationship is $617 billion in 2013. </p>
<p>Just
to end, and I’ll turn it over to the Ambassador in one minute, this effort, the
JCCT is a culmination of 16 working groups that have meeting throughout the
year on topics such as intellectual property rights, agriculture,
pharmaceutical and medical devices, information technology, travel and tourism
and many other issues. Our teams have been working closely with the Chinese to
try and improve our trade and commercial relationship, and the bottom line is
we want more collaboration and cooperation and constructive engagement with
China, and the JCCT is an important place for us to get our work done.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><em>Remarks as
Delivered by U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman</em></strong></p>
<p>Thank
you very much, Secretary Pritzker, and I am delighted to be co-chairing the
JCCT with you in Chicago, and we are enormously grateful to you and the people
of Chicago for the hospitality, and the warm hospitality that will be on offer
there next week.</p>
<p>Before
I talk about the JCCT, let me just take one step back to talk about the
U.S.-China relationship, and build on some of the things that Secretary
Pritzker said. </p>
<p>Since
1983, when the first JCCT was held, our exports to China have grown by more
than 50 times, and our bilateral investment has also skyrocketed, with China's
stock of investment in the U.S. now rising to more than $8 billion, one of the
fastest growing sources of investment in the United States. In just over three
decades, China went from being our 22nd largest trading partner, now to being
our second largest trading partner.</p>
<p>And
for the U.S., that has meant our exports to China have increased, and that has
meant more good-paying jobs supported by trade, it's meant more competitive
businesses, it's meant more consumer choice, as well.</p>
<p>As
Secretary Pritzker said, Chicago and Illinois are prime examples of states that
have seen an expansion of trade and investment in both directions. To just add
to that, Chicago is America's leading hub for air exports to China, responsible
for more than one quarter of all American air exports to China. </p>
<p>With
regard to the JCCT and our vision for the future of this relationship, the
future of our bilateral relationship will depend on building on two critical
components: mutual interest and mutual respect.&nbsp; Mutual interest means
unlocking opportunity in both of our countries, expanding trade, creating a
level playing field for our workers and businesses, and lowering barriers to
investment.&nbsp; And mutual respect means having candid conversations about
areas where we disagree and putting creative, bold ideas on the table to try
and bridge those differences.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The
JCCT has been a valuable tool for helping in both regards, both building mutual
respect and pursuing mutual interests.</p>
<p>This
year, as Secretary Pritzker mentioned, we've been focused on reimagining the
JCCT, and sharpening this tool by creating new opportunities for direct private
sector participation and increasing our senior-level
engagement.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And those conversations will only make it more
effective to address our trade and investment issues. </p>
<p>We've
been talking over the course of the year about greater market access for U.S.
goods and services, protection of intellectual property, including trade
secrets, about promoting an efficient and level playing field in China, and
about securing best practices in regulatory enforcement, among other issues.</p>
<p>We
talked about agriculture, services, manufacturing, excess capacity issues that
are faced in China, as well as China's application of its anti-monopoly law, to
make sure it's used in a non-discriminatory fashion. And those conversations
will continue next week, as well.</p>
<p>As
Secretary Pritzker said, the JCCT isn't just a meeting, it's a process. A
year-long process, with extensive teams on both sides, working with each other
to try and address these issues, and this will come to a head next week when we
have an opportunity to review the progress made and address some of the
outstanding issues. And I'm very excited to be part of this with Secretary
Pritzker in Chicago next week to bring that to a close.&nbsp; </p>Secretary SpeechesJCCTU.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and TradeOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerFri, 12 Dec 2014 20:45:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17322 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Delivers Remarks at Meeting of the President’s Export Councilhttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/11/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-delivers-remarks-meeting-pre
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Thursday, December 11, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p>Good
morning again, everyone. Thank you Jim McNerney, Ursula Burns, and members of
the President’s Export Council for joining us today.&nbsp; I want to thank you
all, and I applaud your ongoing work to advance our shared agenda to increase
exports for American businesses and strengthen the American economy. As I said
earlier, this group is an essential piece of the Administration’s vision of
commercial diplomacy. </p>
<p>Many of
you joined me on an economic fact-finding mission to Poland and Turkey earlier
this year. This trip was about putting our business leaders on the field to
help advance our strategic and economic interests.&nbsp; We joined together to
deliver a message to Polish and Turkish leaders about the need to reform; to
create a level playing field for businesses; to open their doors to more
American exports – and, in the process, to a more robust commercial
relationship with the United States. That message was far more powerful and far
more effective coming not only from me or any government official, but from
you, our business leaders, as well.</p>
<p>This
trip was an opportunity to showcase YOUR ability to work with the government to
promote reform and create new opportunities for our businesses around the
world.&nbsp; I look forward to continuing this work with all of you.&nbsp; </p>
<p>As we
begin today’s meeting, I want to briefly update you on the new phase of the
National Export Initiative – or NEI NEXT. Early in this Administration,
President Obama created the NEI to spur economic growth and job creation. ,
Through this effort, for the first time, we brought the full suite of federal
resources to bear to help U.S. businesses drive exports. As Jim mentioned, the
NEI has produced remarkable results: we are on-track for a fifth straight record-breaking
year of exports. According to the latest trade data released last week, U.S.
exports of goods and services increased by more than $2 billion from month to
month. </p>
<p>This
kind of continued export growth benefits our economy at a macro level, but it
also improves the lives and livelihoods of individuals across our country.
Indeed, every morning, 11.3 million Americans go to work in jobs supported by
exports. Let me put a finer point on this: whenever we open new markets to
American products and services, YOUR companies grow, and our nation’s workers
and families are better off.</p>
<p>Earlier
this year, we introduced NEI NEXT to build on the progress we have made to
date.&nbsp; NEI NEXT was heavily shaped by PEC recommendations and feedback
from thousands of customers and partners. It will fundamentally change the way
the U.S. government helps American companies expand their exports and their
global footprint.&nbsp; NEI NEXT is our blueprint to help ensure that more
American businesses of all sizes can start sending their goods and services
beyond our borders and fully capitalize on markets opening up across the globe.</p>
<p>The
agencies here today have made an ambitious set of NEI NEXT commitments. They
include:</p>
<ul><li>Providing
customized and focused assistance for businesses, including those in emerging
industries;</li><li>Streamlining
export-related services and reporting requirements and processes; </li><li>Working
to expand access to financing;</li><li>Partnering
with states and communities to foster local trade and investment business
support networks; and</li><li>Carrying
out our trade agenda by ensuring access to foreign markets and facilitating a
level playing field abroad. </li></ul>
<p>The
recommendations that you have provided over the past four years have guided our
work. To highlight a few key examples:</p>
<ul><li>The PEC
has prioritized improvement of data. Under NEI Next, we will supply
American businesses with the information they need to make export
decisions – by making data and market research more sharable and open, and
working with partners to expand its distribution.</li><li>The
PEC has reiterated the need for federal integration with state and
regional export initiatives. Under NEI NEXT, we will make it easier for
small businesses to access export-related assistance – by increasing our
coordination with local trade and investment resources.</li><li>Most
importantly, we will guide program improvements to better meet the
export-related needs of small and medium-sized companies, which the PEC
has made a priority from day one.</li></ul>
<p>We are
laser-focused on broadening the base of exporters and expanding U.S. export
activity. Central to meeting that mission and the goals of NEI NEXT is a series
of steps to strengthen our hand in markets around the world. Working with
Congress, the U.S. Trade Representative, and business leaders, our practical
and immediate tasks are clear: We must reauthorize the Export-Import Bank – a
critical tool that better enables U.S. companies of all sizes to compete
overseas. We must work with Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority – to
empower the President to move forward on high-standard, broad-based regional
agreements like the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the
Trans-Pacific Partnership.&nbsp; We must drive home the message of how these steps
will expand exports, grow our economy, and create good jobs.</p>
<p>On each
of these components of our agenda, we need your help. We need you to make the
case that trade agreements can offer enormous benefits – especially for small-
and medium-sized enterprises looking to tap into new markets.&nbsp; Together
with your efforts, we can help ensure that the tremendous benefits of
international trade are more widely felt and understood. </p>
<p>Of
course, I cannot talk about trade and exports without mentioning one of our country’s
greatest exports: entrepreneurship. I recently traveled with the Vice President
to Morocco for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. The Summit made this fact
clear: the United States—and the Department of Commerce in particular—has a
unique role to play in ensuring all entrepreneurs have access to the support
structure necessary to help them thrive. We have a responsibility to share our
expertise and our experience, and to show our partners worldwide what it takes
to build an entrepreneurial society in their own communities.</p>
<p>One way
we meet this charge is through a public-private partnership called the
President’s Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship – or PAGE – which I am
honored to chair. This initiative brings together 11 of America’s top entrepreneurs,
who use their stories and knowledge to mentor and inspire young people and
start-ups across our country and around the world. Three PAGE members
accompanied me to Morocco – and I am pleased to tell you that we will soon
expand the PAGE program to include more members. </p>
<p>Along
with PAGE, the PEC’s recommendations to improve the business environment for
entrepreneurs and innovators have provided us with ideas to help people turn
their inventions into thriving businesses. I thank you for your continued focus
on this topic, which contributes to the well-being of so many Americans and to
the overall competitiveness of the United States as a whole. </p>
<p>Finally,
next week I am heading to Chicago with Ambassador Froman to host the 25th
U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade meetings. Secretary Vilsack
will also join us. The JCCT provides a framework for the U.S. and Chinese
governments to discuss policy issues in the bilateral commercial relationship.
This year’s program has been reimagined to facilitate increased participation
by U.S. and Chinese businesses and greater interaction between our government
and our businesses. For the first time, private sector leaders and government
officials together will assemble around themes that are central to the
U.S.-China commercial relationship – including investment, travel and tourism,
economic leadership, and excess capacity.</p>
<p>I want
to close by saying this: the President’s Export Council plays an invaluable
role in guiding our country’s economic policy. This meeting is our chance to
hear from you – about the issues I raised or any other pertinent challenges
facing America’s companies and industries. And I look forward to your report
and your recommendations about how to further expand exports and grow our
economy. </p>
<p>Together,
we will move the United States forward to greater success in our communities,
greater growth at home, and a greater reach abroad.</p>Secretary SpeechesPolandPresident's Export CouncilTurkeyOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerThu, 11 Dec 2014 21:40:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17315 at http://www.commerce.govRemarks from Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on Training America's Workforce at Montgomery College http://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/10/remarks-commerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-training-americas-workf
<p>Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Secretary of Labor
Tom Perez visited Montgomery College in Germantown, MD, the recipient of a $15
million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training
(TAACCCT) grant to lead a consortium of 14 Maryland community colleges, in
partnership with 37 employers, to build career pathways for cybersecurity and
information technology jobs. Cybersecurity is a threat not just to our national
security, but to our businesses and our economy at–large, and there are
currently approximately 210,000 open and unfilled cybersecurity jobs across the
country.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Skills development is an important issue for our workforce and our
businesses, and Secretary Pritzker has made job-driven training a top priority
for the Department of Commerce for the very first time. In critical areas of
our economy, ranging from manufacturing to cybersecurity, jobs are going
unfilled because employers cannot find workers with the skills they are
seeking. To ensure we are aligning federal training programs with employer
needs, the Obama Administration is focused on bringing all stakeholders
together – businesses, community colleges, labor, government, and other
institutions – to work together on the training programs and partnerships of
the future.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Remarks As Prepared for Delivery:</strong></span>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thank you, Dr. Pollard, for the tour of the cyber
laboratory and for welcoming us to Montgomery College’s Germantown campus
today.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I also want to recognize all of the Maryland community
college presidents, private sector, and local and state government leaders with
us today.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It is great to be here with Secretary Perez – who has
kept the Department of Labor laser-focused on the interests of America’s
working families every day. He has been an outstanding partner in making
job-driven training a core component of this Administration’s economic agenda.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For the first time in history, the Department of Commerce
has made skills and workforce development a top priority. The reason is simple:
for our economy to grow and our families to thrive, we need to ensure that more
workers are better prepared and better equipped to meet the demands of business
in the 21st century. Meeting that task is a responsibility for all of us – and
requires close cooperation between government, the private sector, and
institutions of higher education.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That is what TAACCCT is all about: building a partnership
between community colleges and local employers to train students to fill the
jobs of today and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow. That is what
Montgomery College and its partners are doing through Cyber-Technology Pathways
Across Maryland – earning a $15 million TAACCCT grant to align your educational
ecosystem with the needs of a vital sector in our economy: cybersecurity. As
you all know, cybersecurity is a threat not just to our national security, but to
our businesses and our economy at-large. Addressing this challenge is a key
priority for the entire Obama Administration.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Department of Commerce is taking the lead on this
front through our National Institute of Standards and Technology – or NIST – which
is located nearby in Gaithersburg. NIST is a national treasure. This agency
advances cutting-edge technology and industry standards at our national
laboratories – which have counted 6 Nobel Prize winners among their ranks. And
NIST has conducted cybersecurity research for as long as there has been
cyberspace to secure. Among its efforts, NIST has worked with the State of
Maryland and Montgomery County on projects designed to:</p>
<ul><li>Secure electronic
health information;</li><li>Protect assets in
the financial services sector; and </li><li>Defend our energy
infrastructure.</li></ul>
<p>More relevant to today’s roundtable, NIST has partnered
with other federal agencies on NICE – the National Initiative for Cybersecurity
Education. NICE is focused on a specific gap in our economy: there are an
estimated 210,000 open and unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the United States
today. For the sake of our economic and national security, that must change. To
close this gap, NICE is taking action. For example:</p>
<ul><li>The NICE
Cybersecurity Workforce Framework provides the standard lexicon for community
colleges and industry partners on the vocabulary of the cybersecurity field,
the curriculum for cybersecurity courses, and descriptions of positions in this
sector.</li><li>NICE is partnering
with the private sector to develop an interactive U.S. map that shows where
cybersecurity job openings exist, identifies the skills required to fill them,
and shows training programs available to job-seekers.</li><li>In addition, NICE
is building a catalogue of high-quality cyber training programs.</li></ul>
<p>Our businesses need a trained workforce that can
implement NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework for Critical Infrastructure – which
provides standards, guidelines, and practices to help businesses manage cyber
risks in a cost-effective way. There is far more to do. At NIST, we are laying
the foundation. But to truly bring our cybersecurity defenses to an optimal
level, we must work with trainers, educators, industry leaders, security firms,
and businesses to meet this challenge in a comprehensive and effective manner.</p>
<p>On another note, I want to take a moment to note that we
meet today at a moment of opportunity for our country. Last month, our economy
added 321,000 jobs, marking 57 straight months of job growth. And 2014 is on
track to be the best year for our labor market since the late 1990s. To build
on this momentum, the Department of Commerce, in partnership with the
Department of Labor, is focused on making sure workers are trained for
good-paying jobs in every sector. To support that effort, for the first time,
the Commerce Department is seeking a national partner to help us develop a
skills-focused learning exchange to identify and scale industry-led workforce
partnerships.</p>
<p>This Federal Funding Opportunity is just one way the
Department of Commerce and the Obama Administration is acting to improve how
our country trains, educates, and prepares our workforce. But to be an
effective interlocutor, it is imperative that we at the Department of Commerce
hear about the concerns and insights faced by all of you at the ground level. I
am very interested in hearing your ideas on how we can more closely align the
immediate workforce needs of business with the educational and training
resources in our communities.</p>
<p>I want to learn from you about how we can make local,
regional, and national workforce development efforts more job-driven. I look
forward to hearing your thoughts and to working together to keep our economy
growing and our country open for business.</p>Secretary SpeechesCybersecurity Framework for Critical InfrastructureTAACCCTU.S. Secretary of Labor Tom PerezNational Institute of Standards and TechnologySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 10 Dec 2014 17:44:39 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17305 at http://www.commerce.govRemarks from U.S.Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on the Importance of Travel Opportunities at the White House Travel Bloggers Summithttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/09/remarks-uscommerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-importance-travel-opp
<p>Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker addressed the White House Travel Bloggers Summit, which brought together about 120 travel and tourism bloggers and industry representatives to encourage the next generation to study, work, travel, and volunteer internationally. The Summit focused on how we can increase the opportunities for American students to learn about the world and economy in which they will compete. Secretary Pritzker underscored that international experience is crucial to acquiring the skills, background and cultural fluency to succeed in the competitive 21<sup>st</sup>&nbsp;century global economy.&nbsp;</p><div>Beyond international education, Secretary Pritzker discussed the critical role of travel and tourism to our economy. The Department of Commerce is the agency charged with leading the Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which established the goal of attracting 100 million international visitors and&nbsp;generating $250 billion in visitor spending annually by the end of 2021. Secretary Pritzker highlighted the recently-announced U.S.- China Visa Validity Agreement to encourage more travel between the U.S. and China by extending the validity of tourist and business visas between our two countries from 1 to 10 years and student visas from 1 to 5 years. Currently, travel and tourism supports roughly 7.7 million jobs in local communities nationwide, and last year alone 1.8 million Chinese visitors traveled to the U.S., spending $21 billion and supporting more than 100,000 American jobs. With this change in our visa policy, up to 7.3 million Chinese visitors will travel to the U.S. by 2021, contributing nearly $85 billion per year to our economy and supporting as many as 440,000 jobs, which is four times the economic and job impact of today.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Remarks As Prepared for Delivery:</span></strong></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thank you to the White House and the Global Engagement team at the National Security Council for bringing us all together today.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thank you to each of the bloggers, experts, and travel industry leaders for participating in this important event.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This summit focuses on two issues near and dear to my heart:</div><div><ul><li>How can we create a better future for our young people by increasing their opportunity to learn about the world and economy in which they will compete; and</li><li>How the growth of travel and tourism in the United States is critical for our economic success.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>I believe that understanding the many norms and business practices outside of our country – and valuing and learning from diverse peoples and cultures – strengthens our nation and our economy.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As a parent, I have encouraged my own children to travel abroad – not simply for fun, but to develop greater cultural sensitivities and appreciation for the beautiful mosaic that is our world today.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>I know that my children and I are blessed to have the ability to travel.&nbsp; Not every American has this same opportunity.&nbsp; It is my hope, though, that more Americans – and especially more of our young people – can have that same experience.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Indeed, travel outside our borders can add a new dimension to a person’s social and cultural intelligence – and one’s knowledge of how people abroad interact and do business with one another.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Travel abroad helps a person understand that norms and practices may be different in Accra or Athens or Beijing or Buenos Aires; but we are all tied together by a basic human connection. Our similarities vastly outnumber our differences.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In this day and age, more and more employers want to hire people with a true “world view” – with the adaptability and openness that comes with having experienced other cultures. In fact, a MetLife survey found that 65 percent of Fortune 1000 executives identified global awareness as “very important” or “essential” in order to be ready for a career.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As a nation, we should be doing everything we can to encourage more of our young people to experience far-off lands.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Because the exposure to destinations and people outside the United States can have a profound effect on one’s perspective.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Through travel, a young person can learn firsthand the rhythm of daily life in another country; the nuances of other cultures; and how business is conducted in different communities across the planet.</div><div> </div><div>Through travel, Americans can interact with their peers and counterparts beyond our borders, meeting people face-to-face to exchange ideas and insights.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Through travel, all of us – from the United States or elsewhere – can come to appreciate one another’s customs, backgrounds, and traditions, ultimately making us more willing and able to find common ground.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This is why international education can be so important – why we should encourage more students to study and work abroad.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This is why we should work together – in business, government, and academia – to afford more young Americans the opportunity to travel, to deepen their cultural fluency, so they can better compete and succeed in the 21st century.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>One way the Obama Administration is taking the lead on this front is through the 100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative – to expand the number of U.S. students studying in Latin America and the number of Latin American students coming to the United States.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As part of this effort, U.S. colleges are partnering with schools in Central and South America to develop new study abroad programs, each with a specific focus – ranging from biotechnology and sustainable agriculture to climate change and health care.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>To help advance our goals, we have partnered with the ExxonMobil Foundation and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation to support educational exchanges in Latin American countries focused on the STEM fields.</div><div> </div><div>Amandine Gatali is one beneficiary of these programs. Born in Rwanda, she is an American student, working toward a degree in environmental engineering and Spanish. This past spring, Amandine studied and interned for a Chilean engineering company. She had the opportunity to not only apply her engineering background in a different environment – Chile – but to expand her language skills and global fluency. Amandine said that “this program opened up many different doors” and allowed her to “acquire…great skills in communication and connection.”</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Ideally, more young Americans would have the chance to get this important cultural, technical, and language exposure as Amandine did in Chile.&nbsp;These connections can be critical to American competitiveness today and in the future.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>We all know the importance and economic value of young Americans studying and working abroad. But we also need more international students traveling here to the United States. This, too, is essential to our mutual understanding as well as our economic growth – and can have an enormous impact over the long run.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Take the example of China’s President Xi Jinping. In 1985, as a low-level Chinese government official, he spent a few weeks in Muscatine, Iowa, learning about American agriculture. He stayed with a local family; he met local leaders and farmers; he engaged with the local community. And 27 years later, he made a point of returning to Muscatine to see his old friends and hosts – this time, as China’s Vice Premier.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In the decades since his time in Iowa, President Xi has called this experience transformative, giving him a deeper appreciation for our country, culture, and people.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Today, he understands the vital importance of creating more opportunities for interaction between our nations, our communities, and our peoples.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>I know President Obama agrees.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>To that end, just a few weeks ago, both Presidents announced a significant agreement to encourage more travel between the United States and China – by extending the validity of tourist and business visas from 1 to 10 years, and student visas from 1 to 5 years.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>What this means is: starting now, American and Chinese travelers will not have to apply for a new visa each year, making travel easier and less costly.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This is a big deal. This smart policy change could do more for U.S.-China relations and mutual understanding than almost any other policy initiative. This will enable more people-to-people engagement between America and China – and the better we understand one another, the more opportunity we will have to engage on an economic level. I know it is the hope of Presidents Obama and Xi that this agreement will bring our peoples, students, and businesses closer together.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This announcement will also have an enormous economic impact on our country. Travel and tourism is already our largest services export to China. Last year alone, 1.8 million Chinese visitors traveled to the U.S., spending $21 billion and supporting more than 100,000 American jobs.</div><div> </div><div>But there is so much more potential to tap. Chinese tourists and business leaders rank America as their top destination, but we capture less than 2 percent market share of Chinese travelers. Chinese citizens cite the ease of obtaining a visa second only to cost among the factors dictating where to take their next trip. With the change in our visa policy, we expect up to 7.3 million Chinese visitors to travel to the U.S. in 2021, contributing nearly $85 billion per year to our economy and supporting as many as 440,000 jobs.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This is four times the economic and job impact as today.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The potential boon for U.S. businesses, our communities, and job creation is extraordinary.</div><div> </div><div>The China visa announcement is just one component of our Administration’s broader focus on travel and tourism. The travel and tourism sector is critical to our economic growth. When people travel from afar to spend money here, buy our products, rent cars, stay in hotels, visit our landmarks – that generates significant economic activity.</div><div><ul><li>Travel and tourism today supports roughly 7.7 million jobs in local communities nationwide.</li><li>In the last 5 years, the number of international visitors has grown – and our economy has seen the benefits, as that growth created nearly 260,000 American jobs.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>President Obama understands the vital role of travel and tourism in our economy, which is why this Administration developed and unveiled America’s first-ever National Travel and Tourism Strategy.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>I am proud that this effort is led by the Commerce Department – and I encourage all of you to meet the first Executive Director of our National Travel and Tourism Organization, Kelly Craighead. Kelly and her team are focused on clear benchmarks: to attract 100 million international visitors and generate $250 billion in visitor spending annually by the end of 2021.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>We are already making progress toward our goals: in 2013, a record 70 million international visitors came to the United States, spending an unprecedented $214 billion in our markets.</div><div> </div><div>There is more to come. With our strategy in place:</div><div><ul><li>We will continue to promote the United States through BrandUSA;</li><li>We will work to reduce wait times for visa applications and make the entry process at U.S. airports less of a hassle; and</li><li>We will keep fighting to build the infrastructure we need to welcome more visitors to our shores.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>As men and women who cover, promote, and write about travel, the Administration’s focus on this sector should come as no surprise. Promoting travel and tourism and encouraging more young Americans to study abroad are essential to our competitiveness; vital to our prosperity; and critical to the success of our businesses and our economy in the 21st century.</div><div> </div><div>We need your help to get the word out. You have the ear of students and families across our country, and we need you to make clear:</div><div><ul><li>Why it can be in a young person’s best interest to spend time beyond our borders; and</li><li>Why it is in our national economic interest to be fully engaged and knowledgeable about cultures and people across the globe.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>We need you to tout and reinforce the economic importance of travel and tourism – and of connection. And we need you to help us ensure that everyone, at home and around the world, knows that America’s doors are open for visitors, open for students, open for growth – and open for business.</div><div>Thank you for being here. Thank you for participating in the effort to promote American growth and competitiveness in the 21st century.</div>Secretary SpeechesNational Travel and Tourism StrategyU.S.- China Visa Validity AgreementWhite House Travel Bloggers SummitSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 10 Dec 2014 00:46:06 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17300 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Kicks Off First Meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Innovation and Entrepreneurshiphttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/05/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-kicks-first-meeting-national
<p>U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today kicked off the first
organizational meeting of the 2014-2016 National Advisory Committee on
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE).
Secretary
Pritzker delivered remarks focused on the importance of entrepreneurship,
innovation, and industry-driven job skills training in helping communities,
businesses, and the workforce become more globally competitive.&nbsp;</p>
<p>During
the meeting, NACIE members are convening strategic planning sessions and
providing preliminary plans for projects to undertake during their two year
term to Secretary Pritzker for feedback. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Secretary
Pritzker <a href="/news/press-releases/2014/10/08/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-announces-new-members-serve-nati">announced</a>
the 27 individuals selected to serve on NACIE in October. The members will
advise the Secretary of Commerce on issues related to accelerating innovation,
expanding entrepreneurship, and developing a globally competitive workforce.
Established in 2010, NACIE is supported by the <a href="http://www.eda.gov/oie/">Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship</a>, housed within
the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Remarks As Prepared for Delivery</span>&nbsp;</p>
<p>First, I want to thank all of you for
agreeing to serve on NACIE. I recognize this effort puts many demands on your
time, but we appreciate having the benefit of your experience, know-how, and
entrepreneurial spirit. &nbsp;</p>
<p>I want you to know up front that your work
on this Council will have a direct impact on the day to day work of the
Department of Commerce and the Administration’s efforts to create the
conditions for economic growth.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As the President’s point person on
entrepreneurship, my role is to advance the country’s innovation agenda at home
and around the world. While I am proud of the successes we have achieved so
far, I know we can do even better. The reality is that we are just skimming the
surface of what we can do to make American businesses, individuals, and
communities more competitive in the global marketplace.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is where you – the people in this room
– come in. We need your help to make a real impact. The President has asked me
to use your talent and expertise to help guide our country’s economic policy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Since the beginning of my time as
Secretary, I have made a concerted effort to bring business leaders, academics,
and entrepreneurs to the table – to help us identify the challenges and
opportunities facing our economy and determine the best possible solutions. Do
not underestimate the importance of your voice. You understand the inner
workings of our economy better than anyone else. And your concrete
recommendations will play a critical role in our Department’s approach to the
three key areas of focus for this Council: entrepreneurship, innovation, and
industry-driven job skills training.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On entrepreneurship, the Commerce
Department already stands front and center in advancing several new initiatives
to strengthen America’s place as the global economic leader. We lead the
Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship program, which brings
together 11 of America’s top entrepreneurs to use their stories and knowledge
to mentor and inspire young people and start-ups across our country and around
the world; and I recently participated in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in
Morocco, where the world’s foremost innovators gathered to exchange best
practices, learn from their peers, and hear the stories of successful and
inspiring business leaders.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These efforts are a start, and we clearly
need to do more. America has the best ecosystem in the world for supporting new
start-ups and business creators, and our entrepreneurial spirit is one of the
greatest assets we can share with other nations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I need to know from all of you what else we
can do. Your experience as innovators and doers is an invaluable resource, and
I am looking for concrete actions we can take to move the needle for America’s
entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On innovation, we must find ways to
catalyze the commercialization of our best ideas and inventions. We invest more
than $130 billion in research, yet we have still barely scratched the surface
in using that research to drive economic growth. Through the Economic
Development Administration, we have invested more than $200 million since 2008
to fund incubators and accelerators across the country and spur innovation in
our communities.&nbsp;</p>
<p>One of the best parts of my job is getting
to travel around the country, visiting these incubators, and meeting local
entrepreneurs – seeing the results of our investments firsthand. I know some of
the people in this room have been recipients of these funds, and what I need to
know is: What else is needed to turn American ingenuity into economic prosperity?
What other support could our Administration provide to help young people and
innovators launch new ventures?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Finally, on workforce development, I am
particularly excited that NACIE will focus on the imperative to better train
and prepare our workers to meet the needs of business and help them compete in
the 21<sup>st</sup> century economy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This issue is personal for me; I have
worked on it for many years. My friend Marie Lynch – who is here today – knows
this better than anyone else. Marie and I worked together on an organization
called Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, which was modeled on national
initiative called Skills for America’s Future. Both of these public-private
partnerships aimed to help employers find employees who are properly trained
for available positions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These types of partnerships are happening
in communities across the country – whether in South Carolina, Wisconsin, at
ASU, or elsewhere. These efforts are absolutely essential to our nation’s
prosperity – because we all know that skilled workforce is central to our
successful economic future. But they are only part of the solution.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That is why, for the first time ever, the
Department of Commerce has made skills and workforce development a top priority
– and why we need your help in identifying innovative solutions. With this
Council, we are not looking to duplicate past or ongoing efforts to strengthen
our workforce. We are asking you to be our partners in initiating a fundamental
change in our DNA – in how our country thinks about educating and training our
students and workers.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Businesses and industry must drive the
solutions. And we want to know what we can do to drive a systematic and
sustainable shift in our approach to workforce development. We need your ideas
and insights into how this Administration can make sure America’s employers
have access to the best talent available.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I am confident that, with your help and
guidance, we can make a real difference in each of these three areas. But we
must also face the reality of our present time: there is just over two years
left in this Administration, and it is imperative that you focus on actionable
recommendations – steps that we have a chance to implement right away.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This does not mean we should only focus on
the immediate future. We have a responsibility to lay the foundation for
progress in innovation and entrepreneurship for the next President and the next
team of leaders at the Department of Commerce. Yet we only have a brief window
to begin our work and start implementing your recommendations. We must get the
ball rolling right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The intelligence, expertise, and networks
represented here are astounding. Let’s use that power to figure out what our
economic legacy will be. And let’s ensure that NACIE does its part to keep
America open for business.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thank you again for your leadership, your
commitment, and your time. I look forward to coming back this afternoon to hear
your ideas on how NACIE can best make an impact over the next two years, and
about the great work we will do together.&nbsp;</p>Secretary SpeechesNACIENational Advisory Committee on Innovation and EntrepreneurshipOffice of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipEconomic Development AdministrationSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerFri, 05 Dec 2014 16:25:50 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17286 at http://www.commerce.govChicago Consular Corps Ball Remarkshttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/12/02/chicago-consular-corps-ball-remarks
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Monday, December 1, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p>Thank
you, Mayor Emanuel, for your introduction, for your friendship, and for your
outstanding service to this city and to our country. </p>
<p>I
want to thank Michael Sacks and the entire Board of Directors of World Business
Chicago and the leadership of Chicago Sister Cities International for inviting
me to join you for this year’s Chicago Consular Corps Gala.</p>
<p>To
all of my fellow Chicagoans, let me just say: it is always good to be home.</p>
<p>Tonight,
we pay tribute to Chicago’s global partners, the Consuls General headquartered
here, and we congratulate this year’s honorees:</p>
<ul><li>Glenn
Tilton, recipient of the Global Citizen Award, for his extraordinary civic and
corporate contributions to advancing the global stature of our city. Glenn, we
have known each other for over a decade. Congratulations.&nbsp; This is a
wonderful and well-deserved honor;</li><li>Exelon
and ComEd, recipients of the Corporate Ambassador Award, and Signal, recipient
of the Global Innovator Award, for their commitment to corporate responsibility
across Chicago; and</li><li>Yoko
Noge Dean, recognized as the Sister Cities’ Volunteer of the Year, for her work
to strengthen the ties between Chicago and Osaka, Japan. </li></ul>
<p>Together,
we celebrate the work of everyone in this room and the bridges that you help to
build every day between our communities.</p>
<p>World
Business Chicago is dedicated to making sure businesses around the world see
Chicago as the “ultimate global business destination.” You are building bridges
between our private sectors.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Chicago
Sister Cities International is dedicated to fostering partnerships and networks
between Chicago and other global cities.&nbsp; You are building bridges between
citizens and local governments.&nbsp; </p>
<p>And
the Chicago Consular Corps. You are deepening people-to-people and
business-to-business ties between your countries and ours. You are building
bridges of friendship and commerce between Chicago and the world.</p>
<p>We
are also here tonight to celebrate the city of Chicago itself, a hub of
domestic and global commerce. Chicago is home to more than 1,800 foreign
companies from 45 countries that employ more than 220,000 people.&nbsp; The
city has drawn over $100 billion in foreign direct investment and has a
well-developed strategy to attract more.</p>
<p>According
to a World Business Chicago analysis, Chicago has the most diversified economy
in the United States, with no single industry employing more than 14 percent of
the city’s workforce. </p>
<p>Chicago-based
companies are leaders in a wide array of industries, from financial services to
health care, from IT to manufacturing, from hospitality to transportation and
logistics.</p>
<p>There
are good reasons for Chicago’s business success. The city is at the heart of a
region with some of the world’s top universities and business schools; its
inter-modal transportation system includes a dual-hub airport system that is
unique in North America; and, in my view, the Chicago business community is
uniquely dedicated to civic engagement.</p>
<p>Our
mayor likes to say that this is “the most American of American cities.” Chicago
may also be the most global of American cities.</p>
<p>At
the Department of Commerce, our job is to make sure that cities across the
entire country know what Chicago knows:&nbsp; building bridges – between our
governments and our businesses – is necessary for us to compete in the 21st
century. And when he named me to this post, President Obama specifically asked
me to focus on building a stronger bridge to the business community.</p>
<p>To
meet this charge, over the course of my 18 months as Secretary of Commerce, I
have met with more than 1,400 business leaders in the United States and around
the world.&nbsp;
</p><p>I
have met with numerous heads of state, foreign and trade ministers, and other
government officials. </p>
<p>I
have heard their ideas about how to spur economic progress at home and deepen
our ties to economic partners abroad.</p>
<p>These
experiences have reinforced my core belief: the American business community is
one of our nation’s greatest – yet underleveraged – diplomatic resources.</p>
<p>President
Obama and Vice President Biden share this view.&nbsp; They believe, as I do,
that our business community can be a force for positive change around the
world. This is why the Administration is committed to developing an ambitious
commercial diplomacy strategy that puts our business leaders on the playing
field in ministries and capitals around the world.</p>
<p>The
case for our more expansive vision for commercial diplomacy begins with three
central facts.</p>
<p>First,
U.S. businesses are the gold standard in the international economy. No matter
what happens in the military or diplomatic spheres, our nation’s commercial
might is without question.</p>
<p>Second,
almost irrespective of the country, foreign leaders want more American business
engagement in their markets and communities. Why? Because American companies set
the standard for strong business ethics. Our businesses employ millions of
people in good-paying jobs around the world, respect the rule of law, and
invest in communities for the long-term. </p>
<p>Third,
our vision of commercial diplomacy recognizes that governments and business –
in the United States and around the world – have enormous overlapping
interests. </p>
<p>Foreign
governments want to foster growth at home, and foreign companies and customers
want American products and services. At the same time, U.S. companies want to
grow, increase profits, and enter new markets on fair terms, and the U.S.
government wants to promote prosperity at home and strengthen a rules-based
economic order abroad.</p>
<p>This
synergy creates an opportunity for government and the private sector to work
together toward our shared goals, but this approach can only produce tangible
results if those in government listen to the concerns and ideas of our business
communities: </p>
<p>We
need business leaders to tell us what policies prevent them from doing more
business in our countries. </p>
<p>We
need to hear from investors themselves what we can do to improve the business
climate in each of our nations. </p>
<p>We
need to tap into the talents, expertise, and perspective of our leading
business figures by giving them a seat at the table.&nbsp; </p>
<p>In
my experience, whenever we include senior executives in our
government-to-government dialogues, the discussions, the policy content, and
the solutions are vastly richer and improved.</p>
<p>This
is our vision of commercial diplomacy, and we have already put it to the test
around the world.</p>
<p>I
led a delegation of U.S. CEOs to the Philippines and Vietnam in June, and just
this past October, I led the President's Export Council – with CEOs from Xerox,
ADM, Lockheed Martin, Marriott and others – on an economic fact-finding mission
to Poland and Turkey. These were not trade missions.&nbsp; These CEOs were not
looking to make particular deals.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Instead,
on both trips, top American executives helped me paint a clear picture for
presidents and prime ministers about how they can attract more business, more
trade, and more foreign direct investment to their nations.</p>
<p>We
also put our vision of commercial diplomacy into action in Ukraine, and I am thrilled to see Ukraine's Consul-General here this evening.&nbsp; I was
not accompanied by CEOs when I visited Kyiv in September, but I did bring a
direct message from our business community.</p>
<p>If
Ukraine embraces overdue reform by improving the country’s business climate,
strengthening its financial system, and fighting corruption, American companies
will be there. They will invest in Ukraine’s communities. They will sell
products to Ukrainian consumers. They will hire Ukrainian citizens. America’s
commercial partnership with Ukraine will grow stronger, and both of our
economies will benefit.</p>
<p>I
recognize that President Poroshenko and Ukraine’s government face serious
challenges, and they know that the path to long-term political stability is
paved with economic reform.</p>
<p>I
discussed a number of specific reforms with President Poroshenko and Prime
Minister Yatsenyuk. I urged them to pass their full anti-corruption legislation
through the Ukrainian parliament — the Rada. I told them that enacting this law
would send a strong signal to the market that it is a new day for business in
Ukraine. Shortly after we departed, we were thrilled to see the Rada actually
adopt the anti-corruption measure. Now, implementation will be the key – there is
certainly far more to do – but this was a significant step forward.&nbsp; </p>
<p>At
the same time, I asked Ukraine’s government leaders to give the private sector a seat at
the table by establishing regular working groups in the agriculture and energy
sectors. In effect, key executives will act as consultants – advising the
government on how to re-ignite these two essential pillars of Ukraine’s
economy.&nbsp; Because if businesses are going to invest in these critical
sectors in the future, the Ukrainian government needs to understand what is
preventing them from doing so today.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>Our
vision of commercial diplomacy is not limited to situations as complex as
Ukraine. It applies nearly everywhere I have traveled – in Western and Eastern
Europe, in East Asia and the Middle East, in Latin America, in North and
Sub-Saharan Africa. But our experience in Kyiv suggests how commercial diplomacy
can work when done right – how the promise of commerce has the power to change
policy.</p>
<p>Beyond
our focus on commercial diplomacy, the trip to Ukraine was very personal for
me.&nbsp; It was a reminder of my own family’s history that started in Ukraine
and made its way to Chicago.</p>
<p>My
great-grandfather, Nicholas Pritzker, shepherded by his parents, emigrated from
Kyiv 133 years ago, at the age of 10. Our family fled their home out of fear
for their safety – and found a new home in Chicago, where Nicholas sold newspapers,
taught himself English, and started on his path to success. </p>
<p>My
family has been blessed to live in a country and a city that allowed us to
start businesses and fulfill our dreams. They taught me the value of hard work
– and of giving back. Indeed, as members of our family settled into their new
city, they created a “nickel club,” collecting pennies each week to help the
Jewish immigrants that followed them here, sharing what little they had. </p>
<p>Here
in Chicago, my family built a bridge: a bridge to a better life, a bridge to
opportunity, and a bridge to the “American dream.”</p>
<p>All
of you – as representatives of your countries, as partners with our country –
work every day to do the same: to build bridges to opportunity for the people you
serve, and to empower your fellow citizens to realize their dreams.&nbsp;
</p><p>With
this city as our inspiration, that must remain our common task: we must work
together to ensure our shared prosperity by keeping each of our nations open
for business – and open for more business together. </p>
<p>
Thank you all for being here tonight. Thank you
to World Business Chicago and Chicago Sister Cities International for
organizing this event and for your work each day.</p>Secretary SpeechesChicago Consular CorpsChicago Sister CitiesCommercial DiplomacyRahm EmanualTrade and investmentUkraineWorld Business ChicagoOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerTue, 02 Dec 2014 20:38:33 +0000rruggieri@doc.gov17273 at http://www.commerce.govSecretary Pritzker Honors Women Entrepreneurs in Marrakesh, Morocco http://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/11/19/secretary-pritzker-honors-women-entrepreneurs-marrakesh-morocco
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Wednesday, November 19, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p>U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny
Pritzker delivered remarks to approximately 300 women entrepreneurs to kick off&nbsp;Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in
Marrakesh, Morocco. Secretary Pritzker discussed America’s leadership in
empowering entrepreneurs at home and abroad, addressed the importance of the
Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) which she chairs,
and touted how a strong entrepreneurial society can lead to greater economic
growth, stability and security, and a rising middle class.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
her address, Secretary Pritzker urged the women entrepreneurs in the audience
to mentor and advise their peers, share best practices with one another, and
inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in their home communities and
countries, and she outlined the key ingredients needed to encourage more women
and more young people to turn their ideas and inventions into thriving
businesses.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Remarks
As Prepared for Delivery</strong></span>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I
want to thank King Mohammed and the government of Morocco for hosting this
year’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I
am delighted to join you today to celebrate entrepreneurship – and to highlight
the economic and social benefits that innovation brings to all of our
countries.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But
before I begin, I must say that I am so inspired by the women at this summit –
all of you. Your dynamism; your fearlessness; your courage to not only enter
the workforce, but to start a business is so inspiring to me. Your appetite for
risk, your vision for your companies, and, indeed, your vision for your societies,
comprise the very definition of the entrepreneurial spirit.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
the United States, we do not just respect and admire our entrepreneurs, we
celebrate them – from Ben Franklin to Steve Jobs; from Elizabeth Arden to
Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, who started her blood testing company at 19 years
old; from Bill Gates to Alexa Von Tobel who founded LearnVest and will join us
at this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The
story of America has been shaped and driven by people like those I just mentioned:
risk-takers, inventors, pioneers in business and technology.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Entrepreneurship
is one of America’s greatest assets and exports, and President Obama has been
promoting global innovation since his famous speech in Cairo in 2009. The
President knows that opportunity for business creators to thrive is the
foundation for a rising middle class, for security and stability, and for broad
based prosperity.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I
am proud to lead the U.S. efforts to support and empower aspiring innovators,
both at home and around the world.</p>
<p>Now,
some countries still restrict access to opportunity: by exerting social
pressure; by limiting educational options; by making it difficult to raise
capital.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But
no nation can grow and thrive over the long term when huge swaths of its
population are denied a chance to chase their dreams and succeed. Societies can
only reach their full economic potential if they tap into 100 percent of their
talent pool.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That
means embracing the ideas and aspirations of our youth. That means enabling
women to get a good education and secure the capital needed to start their own
companies. That means allowing women to dictate their own futures. That means
empowering you – and all women entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This
is not an abstract topic for me; this is personal. I spent 27 years in the
private sector, and I started five companies.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I
understand how it feels when most of your colleagues and competitors are men. I
understand what it is like to have an idea, but not know how to take it from a
concept to a business plan to an entity that can actually get funding. I
understand the uncertainty associated with needing to hire people with
expertise that you do not possess. I understand what it is like to stumble, get
back up and try again. And I know the exhilaration of bringing in that first
100 dollars of revenue. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p>I
was fortunate to have the guidance, direction, capital and the fortitude I
needed to succeed. And I want all entrepreneurs, especially women like you, to
have the same support structure.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Because
the fact is, when women entrepreneurs take risks and succeed, societies change
for the better. Expectations change, not only for other women, but for men and
children, too. It becomes easier to accept the idea of a woman as a family’s
breadwinner, the head of a household, a community leader, or a head of state.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Because
when women entrepreneurs thrive, economies grow. In the United States,
women-owned firms generate more than $1.3 trillion in revenues and employ
nearly 8 million people. In developing nations, there are as many as 10 million
small and medium enterprises owned by women – all of them creating jobs,
driving consumer spending, and injecting growth into their communities.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Because
when women entrepreneurs flourish, families benefit. Women tend to spend more
of their money on their children’s health and education, which leads to a more
skilled, more productive generation of workers.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
the United States, we know the power of women entrepreneurs as leaders and
trailblazers in our communities.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
the Obama Administration, we are leveraging this power through a brand new
public-private partnership called the President’s Ambassadors for Global
Entrepreneurship, or PAGE, which I am honored to chair.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This
initiative brings together 11 of America’s top entrepreneurs, who use their
stories and their expertise to mentor and inspire young people and start-ups across
our country and around the world.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Among
our ambassadors are a number of extraordinary women, who have changed our
country – and the world – for the better:&nbsp;</p>
<ul><li>Women
like Nina Vaca, the daughter of immigrants who founded the IT services firm
Pinnacle in her living room with just $300 – and turned it into a global brand.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<ul><li>Women
like Alexa von Tobel, who started LearnVest to make personal investing more
manageable – and whose company now makes financial planning easier for
thousands of Americans. &nbsp;</li></ul>
<ul><li>Women
like Daphne Koller, who co-founded Coursera to bring high-quality education
from top universities to people around the world, at a low cost.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<p>I
am proud that Alexa and Daphne will join us this week to participate at the
Global Entrepreneurship Summit.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Yet,
even with American support of entrepreneurs worldwide, we know that our efforts
can only go so far when women lack access to the basic ingredients needed to
start a business. Too often, women lack access to capital. Too often, women
lack access to training in vocational and technical skills. Too often, women
lack access to information and communications technology – the computers and
mobile devices needed to grow a business in the 21<sup>st</sup> century.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Female
entrepreneurs all over the world need a change in culture: where it is
acceptable to fail in one business and then try again with another; where women
are encouraged to break free from their traditional roles; where affordable
child care equips mothers with the freedom to strike out on their own; where
anyone, male or female, is empowered to start and run their own business.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On
top of these challenges, in many communities, structural obstacles still create
enormous difficulties for women and men who want to launch and grow a new
business.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I
have traveled all over the world since I became Secretary, and I have met with
countless ministers and heads of state. They always ask me: how do we encourage
and support entrepreneurship like you do in the United States?&nbsp;</p>
<p>The
conversation begins with how to build an infrastructure of opportunity.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Countries
need a strong educational system that produces students able to think broadly
and creatively, and to accept and take risks, even if that could mean failure.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Entrepreneurs
thrive when their country’s private sector and universities have close
relationships, so that ideas can easily become commercialized and tested in the
market.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Countries
also need laws that make it easy for innovators to both start a company and
wind it down, and laws that protect intellectual property. And, entrepreneurs
need strong rule of law, a level playing field, and the ability to access
financing throughout the stages of a business’ life cycle.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Even
without all the elements in place, entrepreneurs around the world continue to
defy the odds, take risks, and inspire us with their perseverance. They are
entrepreneurs like Ethel Cofie, who is here today. I met Ethel this past May at
the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, a dynamic incubator in
Accra, Ghana.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ethel
runs a successful technology consulting firm, specializing in mobile app and
software development. But her success did not come easily.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ethel
grew up in Accra. She was one of only four women in a class of 150 to graduate
from Ghana’s Valley View University, earning a degree in computer science.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She
won a scholarship to attend graduate school in London, then returned home to
Ghana to pursue her dream and start her business.&nbsp; However, Ethel could
not find enough clients for her consulting firm; she could not secure enough
business or support; she ran into too many obstacles; and she had to close down
her operations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ethel’s
original company failed, but all was not lost.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
the following years, she worked for a Gates Foundation project to expand mobile
technology in Ghana. She served as a technical consultant to a Ford Foundation
initiative on election monitoring in Nigeria. She managed a team of technical
and business analysts for Vodafone.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Through
her experiences, Ethel learned; and decided to try again. This time, with
mentorship from her father, her former boss at Vodafone, and one of the leading
digital media entrepreneurs in Ghana, Ethel succeeded. And today, her business
is thriving.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Now,
she wants other women, especially in the tech sector, to follow her lead. In
fact, this summer, Ethel organized an online, pan-African meet-up to exchange
best practices and encourage fellow women tech entrepreneurs across the
continent.&nbsp;</p>
<p>President
Obama and I know that few, if any, entrepreneurs succeed on their own. The
United States is committed to serving as your partner, and we are acting to
expand our role as the global leader in entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
the coming weeks, we will announce the expansion of the President’s Ambassadors
for Global Entrepreneurship, adding new voices to our efforts to inspire young
people in America and beyond our borders.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
addition, we are supporting a new entrepreneurship curriculum, developed by
Daphne Koller of Coursera, to teach aspiring entrepreneurs the basics of
starting a business.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let
me close by saying, all of you embody the statement made famous by Bobby
Kennedy half-a-century ago: that “some…see things the way they are and ask why;
I dream things that never were and ask, why not.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>Everyone
in this room has dreams – and is working to realize them. Every one of you has
challenged convention. Everyone here has the capacity to not just start a
business but to bring prosperity to your families and communities.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Throughout
this summit, I urge you to share that spirit – because you are the agents of
change in the 21<sup>st</sup> century.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thank
you for being here.&nbsp;</p>Secretary SpeechesAlexa von TobelDaphne KollerGlobal Entrepreneurship SummitNina VacaPAGEPresidential Ambassadors for Global EntrepreneurshipWomen’s Entrepreneurship DayInternational Trade AdministrationSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 19 Nov 2014 15:08:19 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17220 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Delivers Remarks on Commercial Relations with Central Americahttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/11/14/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-delivers-remarks-commercial-
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Friday, November 14, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p>Today,
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker gave remarks highlighting the
Administration’s interest in expanding commercial relations and the importance
of creating a sound business climate to attract additional foreign investment
in Central America. The remarks were given at the Central America Breakfast
hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in coordination with the
National Security Council (NSC). The breakfast preceded a larger event,
“Investing in Central America: Unlocking Opportunities for Growth,” which
focused greater attention on Central America, particularly following the
migration surge earlier this year to the United States of unaccompanied
children from the region.</p>
<p>The
breakfast included representatives from the U.S. business community and the
public and private sectors for several Central American countries. President
Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador, President Otto Perez Molina of
Guatemala, and President Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras also attended the
breakfast. IDB Executive Vice President
Julie Katzman moderated the discussion with U.S. and Central American business
representatives sharing their perspectives on strengthening the business
climate.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p><strong><em>Remarks As Prepared for Delivery:</em></strong></p>
<p>Thank
you, Luis (Alberto Moreno), for your
introduction and for welcoming me to join you and the leadership of the
Inter-American Development Bank for this important event. </p>
<p>I
also want to recognize the heads of state in attendance – President Salvador
Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador, President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala, and
President Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras. Your presence here is a clear
sign of your shared commitment to move your economies forward, through reforms,
through improved security, and through a strong and growing commercial
partnership with the United States. </p>
<p>For
decades, the United States has demonstrated consistent leadership across the
Americas. Over the past 30 years, the United States has deepened our trade and
investment ties with your nations. We have opened our doors to your exports. </p>
<p>Through
economic assistance and humanitarian aid, we have invested billions of dollars
in the stability, security, and economic success of our Central American allies
– but progress has been far too limited.</p>
<p>This
past summer, we saw the all-too-human result of this lack of progress: the
steady stream of unaccompanied children risking their lives, their livelihoods,
and their futures to cross the border into the United States.</p>
<p>Central
America’s young people, families, and workers just do not have enough
opportunities to succeed. And against the backdrop of this past summer, we have
to be honest with ourselves and with each other about why: the changes and
reforms needed across the Northern Triangle and the greater region have largely
been ignored.</p>
<p>As
a result – and not withstanding our geographic proximity – our commercial
relationship is not where it should be – or can be. </p>
<p>Today’s
IDB event is about changing that. It is about figuring out how we can work together
to build sustainable growth in your countries and strengthen our economic
bonds. It is about building a sustainable foundation of security and prosperity
in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and across Central America.</p>
<p>What
we do not want is to be sitting at this table 10 or 20 years from now having
the same conversation about the same failures and missed opportunities. We do
not want to find ourselves looking back and realizing we missed a chance to
change course for the better.</p>
<p>President
Sanchez Ceren, President Perez, and President Hernandez: you are here because
you understand the urgency and possibility of this moment.</p>
<p>You
have come together to lead in your governments and across your region. And you
have made your commitments clear through the “Plan of the Alliance for
Prosperity of the Northern Triangle.”</p>
<p>In
this plan, you pledged action to expand your economies and improve the business
climate. </p>
<p>Now,
it is time for you to take tough, but necessary, steps to increase
transparency, eliminate rampant corruption, and reform your tax codes –
critical steps to attract more business investment and spur long-term economic
growth.</p>
<p>In
your plan, you pledged to address the root causes of last summer’s crisis.</p>
<p>Now,
it is time for you to follow through with a renewed commitment to upholding the
rule of law, reducing violence and improving security, and securing opportunity
for all of your citizens.</p>
<p>In
your plan, you recognize the importance of a strong partnership with the
private sector. You know that broad-based prosperity must be driven by
businesses – not by government aid alone. </p>
<p>Now,
it is time for you to implement this strategy. </p>
<p>It
is time to show the business community that you are serious about your vision.
It is time to develop stronger institutions that can facilitate real progress
toward your goals. </p>
<p>I
know this will not be easy, and I know that reforms will not happen overnight.
But implementation must start right away.</p>
<p>I
spent 27 years in the private sector. I know what businesses look for before
entering any market, and I know that they are watching to see what you do next.</p>
<p>Businesses
want to see you translate your plan from a series of promises and proposals
into tangible reforms and results. </p>
<p>Businesses
want safety for their employees; a level playing field and fair competition;
functioning infrastructure, strong transportation networks, and an educated
workforce; a predictable economic climate; and they want to see your regional
strategy put in place.</p>
<p>The
businesses in this room – and many more that are not with us today – want to
enter and expand across Central America. But they are not charitable
organizations, and they will not invest their time, their people, or their
money absent clear, positive, sustainable change. That change is up to you.</p>
<p>Make
no mistake: Your intentions matter. Plans matter. Actions matter. Without
progress by your governments in a series of key areas, the possibilities for
real, lasting, private sector-led growth are limited.</p>
<p>From
the perspective of our businesses and our government, progress for the Northern
Triangle can start with specific components already laid out in your plan.</p>
<p>First
and foremost, it is imperative that your countries enact and implement strong
anti-corruption laws. As long as corruption is rampant, the risk of doing
business will simply be too high for many American companies.</p>
<p>In
addition, advancing effective tax reform and improving collection rates are
imperative to drawing the private sector.</p>
<p>We
urge each of you to affirm your shared commitment to the rule of law by fully
funding your Attorneys General and your police forces, while creating an
independent investigation office.</p>
<p>We
are looking for your nations to update regulations regarding logistics, port
management, customs, and sanitary registries. Harmonizing standards for
commodities between your countries would provide an immediate and significant
boost to regional trade and growth. </p>
<p>We
encourage your governments to immediately create a council, composed of your
three governments and the private sector, to address each strategic line of
action in your joint plan.&nbsp;
</p><p>To
further advance your countries’ success, we want to see your best and brightest
young people stay home, start businesses, and help grow your economies in El
Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. </p>
<p>In
the United States, we do appreciate the importance of sending remittances back
to families in your nations, yet we also know that relying on these payments is
not sustainable over the long term. </p>
<p>If
you make tough decisions now to implement your strategy for growth, remittances
will gradually become less essential to families in your countries. </p>
<p>You
can initiate a virtuous circle – where you attract more businesses, which then
pay more taxes that support critical social and educational programs. Over the
long haul, that cycle of progress will lead to greater growth in your
economies, greater stability for your people, and greater prosperity for
countries.</p>
<p>The
U.S. government and the Department of Commerce know we all benefit when your
countries succeed. We want to be your partners, but we need to see your
commitments in action.</p>
<p>If
you are ready to demonstrate the political will, we can help you identify the
reforms needed that will attract business. We can help you implement these
reforms effectively. We can help highlight these reforms in the U.S. business
community.</p>
<p>Real,
sustainable reform will not only lead to more private sector investment. It
will lead to new jobs for your workers and a stronger society for your
families.</p>
<p>Beyond
that, reform will be a clear sign to us – to the United States – that your
countries and all of Central America are ready to pursue the difficult, but
vital, path to economic and political progress. </p>
<p>Reform
will signify that you are interested in renewing our decades-old “alliance for
progress” and form the foundation for lasting growth. Reform will send the
message that your countries are dedicated to a stronger economic partnership
between our governments – and that Central America is now more open for
business. </p>
<p>Thank
you. I look forward to our discussion this morning and to the results of the
IDB conference throughout the day.</p>Secretary SpeechesCAFTAEl SalvadorGuatemalaHondurasInternational tradeInternational Trade AdministrationOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerFri, 14 Nov 2014 20:15:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17199 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Delivers Remarks at the Discover Global Markets Sub-Saharan Africa Business Forumhttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/11/05/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-delivers-remarks-discover-gl
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Wednesday, November 5, 2014<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p>Thank
you, Arun Kumar, for your introduction. I want to recognize you and our entire
Global Markets team at the Commerce Department for your excellent work and for
organizing this forum. </p>
<p>I
want to applaud Senator Isakson for his participation at this gathering and for
his leadership in expanding trade and commercial engagement between the United
States and Africa. </p>
<p>I
also want to thank all of the business leaders from the United States and
Africa who are here with us, as well as the local, state, and federal
government officials present at this Discover Global Markets Sub-Saharan Africa
Business Forum.</p>
<p>This
Discover Global Markets event is part of a series of gatherings that we have
had across the country to help American businesses obtain the tools to succeed
internationally; to meet our Foreign Commercial Service teams; to identify
emerging opportunities in foreign markets; to leverage government resources;
and to make key contacts with local industry partners.</p>
<p>As
we meet here in Atlanta, our thoughts are never far from the deadly outbreak of
Ebola across the communities of West Africa.</p>
<p>Earlier
today, I met with senior leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention to receive an update on their response to the Ebola epidemic.</p>
<p>We
reviewed our strategies to stop the spread of the disease and to eradicate it.
The approach is two-fold: On the home front here in the United States, we are
working to treat each American case as it arises. We have the mechanisms in
place to catch the virus quickly, to treat it properly, and to prevent it from
spreading.</p>
<p>In
West Africa, the United States is leading an international coalition to halt
and resolve the crisis. We are partnering with the African Union, governments
in sub-Saharan Africa, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the
European Union, and NGOs – because we know that Ebola is a global challenge in
need of a global response.</p>
<p>With
the midterm elections now over, our country has to get back to focusing on
facts, not fears or rumors. Let me put the situation in West Africa in
perspective:</p>
<ul><li>Africa
is a continent of 54 countries, with a population of 1.1 billion. Today,
Ebola is confined to just 3 countries, with a total population of roughly
21 million. And efforts are starting to turn the corner, with the growth
of the disease slowing in Liberia.</li><li>Nigeria
and Senegal have had 20 cases in total, and they were able to stop the
spread of the disease. Both countries are now open for business and
Ebola-free.</li><li>Of
the 8 people that received treatment in the United States, 6 are cured,
and one is on the road to recovery.</li><li>The
world public health apparatus has been brought to bear. Doctors, nurses,
and medical workers are using the proper protocols, rooted in science, to
treat patients and to slow the number of new cases. </li><li>And
governments across Africa have stepped up their screening and awareness
efforts, which are allowing the private sector to conduct business as
usual throughout Africa outside of the three affected countries.</li></ul>
<p>In
recent weeks, I have spoken with a wide range of businesses engaged in Africa
about their approach to the situation on the ground.</p>
<p>Let
me share the story of Firestone, which has been in Liberia since 1926.
Firestone Liberia operates a rubber farm that covers 185 square miles. They
employ 8,000 people, and their farm is home to 80,000 family members. They also
have a hospital, medical facilities, and schools – all of which are run by the
company.</p>
<p>The
farm is a real community. And while they have seen 78 cases of Ebola, the
company has provided the resources to tackle the immediate health challenge. At
the same time, they are educating the community about how to stay healthy and
prevent the virus from spreading.</p>
<p>You
can imagine the fear of the unknown in the community. But Firestone used the
tools at its disposal, including the 450 teachers that teach in their schools
that exist on the farm and the local radio station, to attack the
misperceptions and misinformation about Ebola and address the stigma based on
misunderstanding of the disease. Doing so enabled Firestone to raise awareness
about hygiene, treat the Ebola patients, and reintegrate them back into their
community.</p>
<p>Firestone’s
experience is a prime example of effective crisis management – and is evidence
of the company’s commitment to the region for the long haul. The actions of
Firestone and many American companies represent the best values of our business
community and the best of humanity.</p>
<p>Despite
the current challenges, Firestone and other businesses are making a long-term
commitment to the nations of Africa. These private sector leaders see the
opportunity across the continent – and want to seize it. And it is easy to see
why:</p>
<ul><li>Africa
is home to six of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world –
including Chad, Congo, the Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Sierra
Leone.</li><li>Real
income has increased more than 30 percent, reversing two decades of
decline.</li><li>GDP
is expected to rise 6 percent each year over the next decade.</li><li>And
Africa will boast a larger workforce than either India or China by 2040.</li></ul>
<p>On
top of these macro-economic indicators for investment, the continent is full of
young entrepreneurs aspiring to build the next Facebook or Google.</p>
<p>A
few months ago I visited the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, a
dynamic incubator in Accra, Ghana. There, I met a group of these intrepid
entrepreneurs, who were creating video games based on African folk heroes;
developing payment processing technologies for the local online market; and
addressing the need for a skilled workforce with online matching tools.</p>
<p>The
men and women at Meltwater demonstrate the type of creativity and innovation
you might find in the Silicon Valley or in Austin, Texas, or right here in
Atlanta at Georgia Tech. Given this kind of raw human talent in combination
with exciting macro-economic factors, all of you are smart to embrace the vast
opportunities and possibilities in sub-Saharan Africa.</p>
<p>One
example and one company, headquartered in nearby Duluth, Georgia, is acting on
this opportunity. AGCO is a global leader in designing, developing,
manufacturing, and exporting agricultural equipment. The company saw the
potential for growth in sub-Saharan Africa – and has made investments in the
region a priority.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>In
the past four years, AGCO has doubled down on its commitments and opened a $35
million parts warehouse in Johannesburg, South Africa, responding to the demand
of their African customers. In addition, they established a Global Learning
Center and Future Farm in Zambia, which trains local farmers and dealers in
modern farming technology.</p>
<p>AGCO
is not done yet. As the company’s Director for Africa and the Middle East has
said, “We are in for the long-term in Africa. We’re coming here for 100 years
and more.”</p>
<p>That
statement sums up what I have heard directly from many American CEOs:
commitment to the African markets should be for the long term.</p>
<p>At
the U.S.-Africa Business Forum in August, the Department of Commerce brought
together hundreds of American and African CEOs with nearly every African head
of state, to spur more trade and investment between the United States and the
54 countries of Africa.</p>
<p>In
fact, U.S. firms, such as Marriott, GE, and Coca-Cola, announced more than $14
billion worth of investments throughout the continent, building partnerships
with African companies like Dangote Industries and the Fidelity Bank of Ghana.</p>
<p>The
Forum generated demonstrable momentum for deeper commercial partnerships to
benefit millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic. </p>
<p>In
the three months since the summit, the Department of Commerce has facilitated
in addition 150 U.S. sales in Africa worth nearly $240 million – emphasizing
what President Obama has called a “new chapter in U.S.-Africa relations.” Now
is the time to capitalize on this momentum.</p>
<p>To
assure our Administration’s sustained commitment as a country to trade and
investment in Africa, President Obama established the President’s Advisory
Council on Doing Business in Africa, led by the Department of Commerce.</p>
<p>The
private sector leaders on this council are tasked to advise the Administration
on how to expand trade between the United States and Africa, increase American
participation in infrastructure and agriculture projects on the continent, and
foster more entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>Today,
just three months to the day from the President’s announcement, I am pleased to
name the members of this council. And I am proud that some of these leaders are
here today, including:</p>
<ul><li>Walé
Adeosun of Kuramo Capital</li><li>Teresa
Clarke of Africa.com</li><li>Melissa
Cooke of African Sunrise Partners</li><li>Kevon
Makell of SEWW Energy</li><li>Rahama
Wright of Shea Yeleen</li></ul>
<p>These
business leaders come from diverse backgrounds and sectors, including finance,
energy, medicine, agriculture, and more – all have extensive expertise and
experience in various African markets.</p>
<p>With
our Foreign Commercial Service teams on the front lines and our partnership
with the members of the DBIA council, our goal is to make doing business in
Africa easier for all American companies.</p>
<p>Beyond
taking the lead in organizing the President’s Advisory Council, the Department
of Commerce strives every day to expand the footprint of American business on
the continent.</p>
<p>We
have doubled the number of commercial offices in Africa, with new sites in
Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This will put more Foreign
Commercial Service Officers on the ground to help American businesses navigate
the African marketplace.</p>
<p>In
December, we will host the Trade Ministers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda,
Rwanda, and Burundi in Washington, D.C., for a commercial dialogue. It is our
goal to sign agreements with each nation to reduce trade barriers and deepen
our trade relations.</p>
<p>Next
February, our department will lead a trade mission to South Africa, Mozambique,
and Kenya, focused on energy, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, and
medical technology. And next September, we will hold our Trade Winds Conference
in Africa for the very first time, bringing hundreds of U.S. companies to meet
face-to-face with African business leaders.</p>
<p>Fifteen
years ago, at the World Economic Forum, Nelson Mandela outlined his economic
vision not only for South Africa, but for all of Africa’s people.</p>
<p>He
forcefully asserted that political freedom across the continent would open
doors to economic progress. He expressed how democratic reform and respect for
human rights would lead to “the reintegration of the African economies into the
world economy, no longer as dependent participants.”</p>
<p>President
Mandela’s vision set the stage for where we stand today: African nations are an
integral part of the global economy. And let me be clear: we in the Obama
Administration will continue to build the commercial partnerships between the
United States and the countries of Africa.</p>
<p>The
United States will continue to help the nations of West Africa halt the Ebola
crisis. And the United States will continue to work with all of you to keep
Africa open for business – for American business and for global business.</p>
<p>Thank
you all for being here today and for working every day to build new connections
of trade and investment across the Atlantic.</p>Secretary SpeechesAfricaDoing Business in AfricaSouth AfricaU.S.-Africa Business ForumInternational Trade AdministrationSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 05 Nov 2014 20:20:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17169 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Discusses U.S.-Canada Trade and Commercial Relationship in Ottawahttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/10/30/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-discusses-us-canada-trade-an
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Thursday, October 30, 2014<br /><strong>News Media Contact:</strong><br />Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883</p><p><em>During remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, Pritzker reaffirms commitment to strengthen North American Commercial Platform</em><br />&nbsp;<br />U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today delivered the keynote address at an event sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, where she highlighted the importance of the U.S. – Canada bilateral relationship and North American commercial platform, noting that it is one of the most efficient, integrated, and dynamic in the world. <br /><br />During her remarks, Secretary Pritzker emphasized expanding bilateral and North American growth and competitiveness through increased trade, investment, and innovation. She also discussed North America’s commitment to completing the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a high-standard trade agreement that opens new markets across the Asia-Pacific to goods and services made in the United States, Canada and Mexico. <br /><br /><strong>Remarks As Prepared for Delivery</strong><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />Thank you, Ambassador Heyman, for your kind introduction. I want to thank Rick Tachuk and AmCham Capital Region for hosting us today. I also want to acknowledge the strong working relationship between AmCham and our Foreign Commercial Service officers throughout Canada. <br /><br />Our Senior Commercial Officer, Rich Steffens, is here with us today. Rich, can you please stand or raise your hand? If anyone in this room is looking for new U.S. partners, Rich and our Commercial Service staff should be your first point of contact.<br /><br />We meet today in the shadow of last week’s heinous attacks on your parliament and in Quebec.<br /><br />Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. I want to offer my deepest condolences to all who knew and loved them, and to people across Canada.<br /><br />In good times and bad, Canada has always stood by the United States; as good friends and close allies, the United States will stand by you now.<br /><br />We pledge to provide any assistance Canada needs in your response. And we will work together to prevent such terrifying acts of violence from ever happening again. <br /><br />The United States and Canada share a unique and special friendship. We have no better partner when it comes to facing threats to our common security. And, similarly, we have no closer economic ally anywhere in the world. &nbsp;<br /><br />I am here today to discuss the current state of the U.S.-Canada economic and commercial partnership, but I also want to focus on the opportunity presented by deepening economic integration across greater North America. Indeed, our long-term success requires us to see all of North America as a united engine for economic growth – founded on the strengths of the United States, Canada, and our neighbors in Mexico. <br /><br />To build a brighter future for communities across our continent, the United States is committed to strengthening the North American commercial platform.<br /><br />Let me begin with Canada. <br /><br />Our bilateral economic relationship is the most efficient, most integrated, and most dynamic in the world. The success of our businesses and the prosperity of our people are inextricably intertwined.<br /><br />Together, the United States and Canada generated $736 billion in bilateral trade in 2013– which breaks down to more than $2 billion a day, or $23,000 every second. <br /><br />Simply put: ours is the largest trading relationship on the planet – and for good reason:<br /><br /></p><ul><li>We have deeply integrated North American supply chains;</li><li>We enjoy ease of access thanks to geographic proximity;</li><li>We share a language and similar consumer preferences; and</li><li>We have an established free trade agreement.</li></ul><p>As a result, more than 96,000 American companies currently export to Canada, and 70 percent of Canadian exports come to the United States. <br /><br />These connections—and this legacy—is the foundation of our commercial relationship. But we can do even better, and our leaders know it. Prime Minister Harper and President Obama are committed to making it even easier for goods and people to move securely across the border.<br /><br />In 2011, the U.S. and Canada launched two complimentary efforts that are moving us toward an even more seamless economic relationship: the Beyond the Border initiative and the Regulatory Cooperation Council.<br /><br />The goal of Beyond the Border is to enhance our security while accelerating the legitimate flow of people, goods, and services between our two countries. We are already seeing concrete outcomes that are making us more economically competitive.<br /><br />For instance, membership in the U.S.-Canada NEXUS program – which allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to move with little or no delay across the border – has increased by nearly 50 percent since 2011 and recently celebrated its one-millionth member.<br /><br />Beyond the Border initiatives like this are making a real difference for U.S. and Canadian companies, but we need to get the word out. The Department of Commerce—as the lead for the United States on outreach—wants to collaborate with our Canadian partners to raise awareness. <br /><br />The Regulatory Cooperation Council, which met in Washington, last week, facilitates the coordination of our regulatory policies. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />For example, when the Council began this process in 2011, only one-fifth of U.S. and Canadian auto safety standards matched. By the end of this year, more than two-thirds of our auto standards will be the same. This reduces costs for auto companies and consumers alike.<br /><br />Going forward, our senior regulatory officials will work together to deepen and broaden our cooperation on both new and existing regulations. These types of initiatives deepen the economic ties between the United States and Canada. And they can serve as a model for a more integrated North American commercial and economic platform.<br /><br />Make no mistake, the economic cooperation between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is extensive and impressive. Our three countries comprise the largest free trade area in the world.<br />&nbsp;<br />Each day, $3 billion worth of goods cross between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our combined economic output already accounts for more than one-quarter of the world’s GDP. Our region is home to a skilled, productive workforce, as well as abundant and affordable energy.&nbsp; And all three of our nations are investing in research and development.<br /><br />Our people and our economies are deeply intertwined, but with these advantages we can do more, which is part of why I am here in Canada this week. If our continued economic integration is well-managed, we can out-compete any region in the world.<br /><br />I will be joining Minister for International Trade Fast and Mexican Secretary of the Economy Guajardo in Toronto tomorrow for the 4th annual North American Competitiveness and Innovation Conference, or NACIC. <br /><br />Our goal is to develop new ideas and initiatives to build on the progress we have collectively made toward North American economic integration over the last twenty years.</p><ul><li>We want to foster innovation – including through cross-border partnerships between business incubators and accelerators;</li><li>We want to attract foreign direct investment to North America;</li><li>We want to make cross-border trade and travel easier, faster, and cheaper;</li><li>And this year, we are focusing on new areas, including big data, commercial cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship. &nbsp;</li></ul><p>This will be my second year attending NACIC, and what I have learned, is that our collective competitiveness in the 21st century is a trilateral project. If we work together – across government and industry – we can position North America as the hub of innovation and the competitive destination of choice for investment and high-end manufacturing. &nbsp;<br /><br />Before I close, I would like to take a moment to focus on the Trans Pacific Partnership. Canada, Mexico, and the United States are all committed to completing a high-standard agreement that opens new markets across the Asia-Pacific to goods and services made in each of our countries. <br /><br />We are at a critical stage in TPP negotiations, and now is the time for all parties to work together, to be bold and creative in crafting an ambitious outcome—with high standard provisions in key areas like intellectual property protection, agricultural market access, and labor and environmental standards.<br />&nbsp;<br />When NAFTA took effect 20 years ago, it laid the foundation for tremendous economic cooperation between our three countries, creating new markets and new opportunities. But that agreement, of course, didn’t reflect our world today. This is our opportunity to upgrade that transformational trade pact. TPP will be the next chapter of our economic integration, and is critical to our efforts to make North America the most globally competitive region in the world.<br /><br />In 1961, President John Kennedy, in an address to the Canadian Parliament, recognized the critical role of U.S.-Canada economic relations.&nbsp; He declared that “Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners.”<br /><br />More than half a century later, the economic partnership that President Kennedy referenced continues to thrive. And as Secretary of Commerce, I am proud to be a champion for this bilateral relationship and for economic growth across all of North America. <br /><br />Together, let’s continue to trade and invest, build and innovate, and increase our competitiveness.<br /><br />To be successful in this endeavor, we must partner with Canadian businesses like yours, and leaders like Minister Fast and Minister Moore.<br /><br />Let’s keep the U.S.-Canada relationship – and all of North America – open for business, and open for more business together.<br /><br />Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. I am happy to take a few questions.<br /><br /></p>Secretary SpeechesCanadaInternational tradeTrans Pacific PartnershipOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerThu, 30 Oct 2014 17:30:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17156 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Addresses the American Chamber of Commerce in South Korea http://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/10/23/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-addresses-american-chamber-c
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Thursday, October 23, 2014<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><em>Secretary Pritzker Led First Trade Mission to Asia; Fifth Trip to Asia Since Becoming Secretary&nbsp;</em></p><p>U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today concluded her last stop of the Trade and Business Development Mission in Seoul, South Korea. During the Japan and South Korea mission, Secretary Pritzker focused on reinforcing trade agreements that reflect U.S. values, like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), that will help U.S. firms gain greater access to both the Japan and South Korea markets. This is Secretary Pritzker’s fifth trip to Asia and her first trade mission to Asia since becoming Secretary last year. The trip served to promote U.S. exports to Japan and South Korea by helping American companies launch or increase their business in these key markets.&nbsp;</p><p>The business delegation included Abbott, AmerisourceBergen, Beautiful Earth Group, C3 Energy, Cargill, Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Eli Lilly and Company, HPI, LLC, Humacyte, Inc., Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Marmon Engineered Wire and Cable, Medidata Solutions, Merck &amp; Co., Inc., Oregon LNG, Principle Power Inc., Quality Electrodynamics, Spacelabs Healthcare, Varian Medical Systems, and Zilkha Biomass Fuels. The mission focused on expanding opportunities for U.S. businesses in the healthcare and energy sectors. It also looked for ways to help the region develop and manage energy resources and systems, and build out power generation, transmission, and distribution. As the voice of business in the Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce plays a pivotal role in expanding market access for U.S. companies in countries around the world. Secretary Pritzker and American businesses met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Park Geun-hye, and other Japanese and Korean officials. The group also met with Japanese and South Korean business leaders in the medical device, biotechnology, regenerative medicine, energy, and health IT sectors to explore opportunities for partnership and investment.&nbsp;</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Remarks As Prepared for Delivery</strong></span></p><p>Thank you to James Kim, Amy Jackson, and all of the leaders and members of AmCham Korea for hosting us today and for advocating on behalf of the interests of U.S. businesses in Korea each and every day.&nbsp;</p><p>I want to recognize Chairman Han and the Korea International Trade Association for working alongside AmCham to promote more open markets across this country and a closer trade relationship between Korea and the United States.&nbsp;</p><p>I also want to take a moment to thank our outstanding Ambassador, Sung Kim. As Ambassador Kim prepares to leave this post, I know he leaves behind a legacy of stronger ties and stronger friendships between the peoples, businesses, and governments of the United States and Korea.&nbsp;</p><p>Last week, I had dinner with your next ambassador, Mark Lippert. And I can say with confidence that you have another star coming to the U.S. Embassy here in Seoul very soon.&nbsp;</p><p>We come together today to reaffirm a simple truth: the bonds between the United States and Korea are strong and thriving – strengthened by decades of defense, diplomatic, and economic cooperation; sustained by our common interests and shared values.&nbsp;</p><p>More than 60 years after the end of the Korean War – when American and Korean soldiers fought and died side-by-side for the security of this country – our ties have only grown.&nbsp;</p><p>In April, President Obama made his fourth visit to Seoul – the most of any Asian nation during his presidency. Today in Washington, D.C., Secretaries Hagel and Kerry are hosting their Korean counterparts to explore areas for even deeper cooperation on global challenges like ISIL, Ebola, international development, and climate change.&nbsp;</p><p>And this week here in South Korea, I am proud to lead a trade mission of top American companies committed to bringing their expertise to Korea’s health care and energy markets.&nbsp;</p><p>The 20 businesses represented on our mission are leaders and innovators in both sectors. They share a desire to do more business in Korea; to develop new and deeper ties here; and to make investments in this market for the long-term.&nbsp;</p><p>These business leaders see an energy sector in need of more diversification, more renewables, and more energy efficiency. And they want to be in the business of helping Korea solidify its energy infrastructure, expand its use of wind and solar, and embrace new technologies in its energy future.&nbsp;</p><p>These business leaders see a Korean leadership targeting health care as a sector for growth – and they see that American expertise is needed in encouraging greater innovation in medications and medical devices and throughout the health care market.&nbsp;</p><p>Our commitment to deeper ties with Korea should come as no surprise. This commitment reflects a broader focus of the Obama Administration’s global leadership – our re-balance to the Asia-Pacific.&nbsp;</p><p>Let me be perfectly clear: the United States is – and always will be – a Pacific nation.&nbsp;</p><p>Early on, President Obama made a deliberate and strategic choice to deepen American engagement in the Asia-Pacific – the world’s fastest-growing region.&nbsp; And no matter what crisis emerges next, whether in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, or elsewhere, our commitment to this region will remain a centerpiece of this Administration’s foreign policy.&nbsp;</p><p>As America’s chief commercial advocate, my emphasis is on the economic dimension of the re-balance.&nbsp; At the center of this dimension is the drive to deepen trade and investment ties with existing partners, especially South Korea.&nbsp;</p><p>Just over two years ago, we advanced this key cornerstone of our strategy with the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Yesterday, I had a great conversation with President Park about KORUS. We agreed that there is a positive story about this agreement – and that we need to do a better job of telling it.&nbsp;</p><p>We need to improve the narrative. That means communicating the success stories so that other companies will be inspired to take advantage of KORUS’ benefits.&nbsp;</p><p>Although we have yet to see the full impact of this agreement, KORUS has already delivered tangible results for American and Korean consumers and businesses.</p><ul><li>Goods and services exports going in both directions are up.</li><li>Korean exports in the industrial and agricultural sectors are on the rise.</li><li>Korean services exports to the U.S. have increased more than 10 percent, and American services exports to Korea have risen 25 percent.</li><li>KORUS has helped Korea attract more foreign direct investment, with American investment up more than 24 percent.</li><li>And Korea is now the 7<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;fastest-growing investor into the United States.&nbsp;</li></ul><p>We know that we have only scratched the surface of the potential benefits of KORUS. And while we acknowledge key challenges in the implementation of the agreement, we know that the Korean government has worked hard, and effectively, to address ongoing issues.&nbsp;</p><p>Moving forward, further challenges are sure to arise, and we need to address KORUS implementation issues more quickly and more efficiently in the future.&nbsp;</p><p>KORUS is a cornerstone of our bilateral relationship today. But the United States is eager to further deepen our partnership and economic cooperation with South Korea.&nbsp;</p><p>Looking at the Korean landscape today, there is a clear area of common ground for our two countries and economies: our shared leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p><p>Both countries see entrepreneurship as part of our economic DNA. Both nations are led by presidents who recognize the importance of giving young entrepreneurs every opportunity to pursue their dreams.&nbsp;</p><p>Both have seen economic growth driven by innovation – and strive to see the next generation of entrepreneurs starting the next wave of great businesses in our own backyards.&nbsp;</p><p>President Park sees this moment as an opportunity for the people and businesses and economy of her country. That is why she has made investment in the “creative economy” a national commitment – promising, in her inaugural address, to create the “second miracle on the Han” through investments in innovation.&nbsp;</p><p>The United States wants to work with Korea to embrace this moment and advance this focus on entrepreneurship. As President Obama’s point-person on entrepreneurship, I am proud to lead the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship – or PAGE.&nbsp;</p><p>This program brings leading American entrepreneurs to the table to offer their mentorship and guidance to young entrepreneurs in the United States and around the globe.&nbsp;</p><p>I know that PAGE can be an invaluable resource for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. And I am committed to bringing the best of America’s experience in entrepreneurship to the next generation of Korean innovators and their counterparts across the globe.&nbsp;</p><p>With our shared focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, with our shared commitment to working together to build a future of economic growth, there can be no doubt: the United States and South Korea are leaders in the global economy.&nbsp;</p><p>Our bilateral economic and commercial partnership is essential to promoting prosperity in each of our countries, in the Asia-Pacific, and around the world.&nbsp;</p><p>Our relationship is critical to the task of building a brighter future for our workers, our business leaders, and our communities.&nbsp;</p><p>Our long, enduring, growing ties are central to the task of keeping the United States and Korea open for business – especially open for business with one another.&nbsp;</p><p>Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. I look forward to spending some time answering your questions this afternoon.</p>Secretary SpeechesKORUSTrans-Pacific PartnershipU.S.-Korea Free Trade AgreementInternational Trade AdministrationSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerThu, 23 Oct 2014 18:31:36 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17125 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary Of Commerce Penny Pritzker Addresses the American Chamber of Commerce of Japanhttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/10/21/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-addresses-american-chamber-c
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Tuesday, October 21, 2014<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><em>Secretary Pritzker
Leads First Trade Mission to Asia; Fifth Trip to Asia Since Becoming Secretary</em></p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is currently in Asia leading
20 American firms on a Trade and Business Development Mission with stops in
Japan and South Korea. During the mission, Secretary Pritzker is focusing on
reinforcing trade agreements that reflect U.S. values, such as the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS),
that will help U.S. firms gain greater access to the Japan and South Korea
markets.&nbsp; This is Secretary Pritzker’s fifth trip to Asia and her first
trade mission to Asia since becoming Secretary in June, 2013.&nbsp; The trip
serves to promote U.S. exports to Japan and South Korea by helping American
companies launch or increase their business in these key markets.&nbsp; The
mission makes stops in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea.</p>
<p>
The business
delegation includes small and big companies, such as C3 Energy, HPI, and
Oregon. The mission focuses on expanding opportunities for U.S. businesses in
the healthcare and energy sectors and will also look for ways to help the
region develop and manage energy resources and systems, and build out power
generation, transmission, and distribution.&nbsp; As the voice of business in
the Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce plays a pivotal role in
expanding market access for U.S. companies in countries around the world.
Specifically on this mission, Secretary Pritzker and American businesses have
met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Japanese officials, as
well as meeting with Japanese and South Korean business leaders in the medical
device, biotechnology, regenerative medicine, energy and health IT sectors to
explore opportunities for partnership and investment</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Remarks
As Prepared for Delivery</strong></span></p><p>Thank
you, Jay Ponazecki, for your kind introduction. I am quite excited to be back
in Tokyo. I love Japan, having visited many times with my family and on
business. Actually, this country holds a special place in my heart. My
father was stationed here in the 1950’s while he was in the Navy, and he fell
in love with the country.&nbsp; When I was a child, he talked often of his time
here. Now, I am back on my first trade mission to Asia.</p>
<p>I
also want to thank the American Chamber of Commerce of Japan and Keizai Doyukai
for hosting our delegation today.&nbsp;
</p><p>Together,
your two organizations represent nearly 2,000 American and Japanese companies,
and share common goals: to improve the business climate in Japan, and to
strengthen the economic ties between our two countries.</p>
<p>President
Obama shares these aspirations. </p>
<p>My
friend, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, shares these aspirations, and she works
every day – side by side with the Commerce Department’s Foreign Commercial
Service Officers stationed in Japan – to support them. And the delegation
of top executives from the 20 American companies, who are with me in Tokyo this
week, support these aspirations.&nbsp; </p>
<p>We
are all committed to working with you to build deeper business-to-business ties
between the American and Japanese private sectors.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The
20 American companies on our trade mission are leaders and innovators in the
energy and health care sectors. Our delegation includes both large
multi-national corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. All
told, our companies represented here today have combined annual sales of nearly
$300 billion.</p>
<p>Regardless
of their size or focus, these firms all share a desire: to do more business in
Japan; to develop new and deeper partnerships here; and to make investments in
this market for the long-term.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Our
job at the U.S. Department of Commerce is to open doors, to nurture connections
between American and Japanese businesses, and to encourage investment in one
another’s communities.</p>
<p>That
is the core mission of our Foreign Commercial Service. Each day, this team of
professionals, which works out of our U.S. embassies all over the world, helps
American companies navigate foreign markets and sell their goods and services
abroad – thereby increasing opportunities globally for our businesses and
yours.</p>
<p>I
want to recognize our excellent Foreign Commercial Service team here in Japan,
led by Andrew Wylegala. Can you stand or raise your hand? If anyone in this
room is looking for a U.S. partner or to meet someone from our delegation, our
Commercial Service staff should be your first point of contact.</p>
<p>I
want to begin our conversation today by making perfectly clear that the United
States is – and will always be – a Pacific nation. Based on our shared history,
as mutually supportive allies, our commitment to deepening economic ties to
Japan should not be a surprise to anyone. </p>
<p>During
the early days of his Administration, President Obama made a deliberate and
strategic decision to deepen American engagement in the Asia-Pacific – the
world’s fastest-growing region.</p>
<p>Some
may question whether the Administration’s re-balance to Asia will persist and
thrive as we address crises and opportunities elsewhere around the world. But
let me be clear: the United States has made a long-term commitment to the
Asia-Pacific region.&nbsp; </p>
<p>No
matter what crisis emerges next, our focus on this region will remain a
centerpiece of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy. And beyond having
great allies across the region, devoting more time, energy, and resources to
Asia is just good business. </p>
<p>Today,
this region is home to nearly 60 percent of global GDP, the world’s
fastest-growing economies, half of the world’s population, and an emerging
middle class that is hungry for American products and services.</p>
<p>We
know that a strong relationship between the United States and Japan is an
anchor for the entire region.</p>
<p>Overall,
the Administration’s re-balance is focused on security, prosperity, democratic
governance, and human rights.</p>
<p>As
America’s chief commercial advocate, my emphasis is on the economic dimension
of the re-balance. This dimension involves deepening trade and investment ties
with existing partners, especially Japan.&nbsp; </p>
<p>It
also requires working multilaterally to build both the physical and soft
infrastructure that is necessary for the growth of America’s emerging partners
in the 21st century. </p>
<p>And
it entails building new mechanisms that establish a level playing field for
commerce across the Asia-Pacific region.</p>
<p>Our
focus on the economic dimension is, and always has been, a central feature of
America’s re-balance.</p>
<p>President
Obama has always understood that the Asia-Pacific is fundamental to America’s
economic future and that our collective economic futures are inextricably
intertwined, as both have been for the past 60 years.</p>
<p>Our
trade mission is a reflection of that broad commitment – and of Japan’s
centrality to the rebalance. In particular, we know that building the
common future our two countries desire, requires us to share the most advanced
technologies in the energy and health care sectors and unlock mutually
beneficial commercial opportunities.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Japan’s
energy security is – quite appropriately – a priority for the government. The country has a compelling need to develop new energy technology, optimize
your mix of energy imports, and increase your energy conservation – and
American companies can and want to help.</p>
<p>In
fact, the companies on our trade mission bring critical expertise to improving
energy efficiency, to expanding the use of renewables, to strengthening the
smart grid, and to developing safe and secure nuclear power.</p>
<p>Our
government and our business community want to expand our commercial
partnerships and help address your energy security needs.</p>
<p>At
the same time, we are joined on this trip by leading American health care
companies.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Today,
Japan boasts a $153 billion market for medical and health products. Japan’s health expenditures are second only to the United States. Japan is
looking for ways to care for a rapidly-aging population with state-of-the-art
technologies in a cost effective manner – and American firms want to be more
present in this market. </p>
<p>Our
cutting-edge, life-saving technologies can benefit Japan. But too often,
obstacles stand in the way. I am pleased to report that the Department of
Commerce and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare are engaged in
discussions to remove regulatory hurdles in the health care sector. </p>
<p>U.S.
companies are prepared to help Japan improve its health IT, health treatments,
health maintenance, and overall health outcomes, but we must address the market
access challenges. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</p>
<p>The
business leaders who have joined me this week are committed to the Japanese
market. They are helping carry forward a tradition of economic partnership
between the United States and Japan that dates back more than 150 years.</p>
<p>In
1858, our two countries signed our first commercial treaty, which enabled Japan
to access more modern technology, expanded Japan’s economy, and laid the
foundation for Japan’s integration into the global economic system.</p>
<p>So
began the U.S.-Japan economic relationship. </p>
<p>Today,
Japan is America’s fourth largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade
valued at $290 billion last year. Japan is the second largest source of foreign
direct investment into the United States, with a cumulative total of $344
billion invested by Japanese companies as of 2013. The United States accounted
for $123 billion in accumulated direct investment in Japan in 2013.</p>
<p>Indeed,
the economic and commercial ties that bind our two countries are clearly strong
and thriving.&nbsp; But we live in a new world of rising powers and emerging
markets, and we cannot sit idly by. A long history of partnership is not
enough; we need a vision and an economic architecture that helps build our
future.</p>
<p>The
cornerstone of that architecture is the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP.</p>
<p>As
everyone in this room well knows, we are in the final stages of negotiating the
TPP, and it is time for all of us to be bold. Incremental steps will not
lead us to the high-standard outcome that we all agreed to pursue when we
joined the negotiations.</p>
<p>We
are making good progress in our agriculture and auto negotiations. But we
still have tough issues to work through.&nbsp; Strong outcomes in both of these
areas are critical if we are to achieve the support needed at home to get this
deal approved by our Congress.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Prime
Minister Abe has eloquently described the economic and strategic importance of
the TPP. I could not agree more.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Let
us not forget: the opportunity presented by completing the TPP is profound.</p>
<p>By
the year 2030, we expect there to be 2.7 billion middle class consumers across
the Asia-Pacific region. Concluding this agreement will give businesses
and workers in both the U.S. and Japan—as well as the other 10 members—better
access to those consumers. And it will give those consumers better access
to high-quality goods and services – ranging from food to health care to
entertainment.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Concluding
this agreement will give manufacturers, farmers, and ranchers in both of our
countries access to markets on terms that allow them to compete fairly. </p>
<p>Concluding
this agreement will allow us to shape our shared future in a manner that befits
our shared values and ensures that the benefits of trade—and a global
economy—are shared broadly.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>From
a purely economic perspective, the benefits of TPP for the United States and
Japan will be substantial: </p>
<ul><li>The Peterson
Institute estimates that Japan’s annual GDP gains from TPP will be close to
$100 billion in 2025; </li><li>Export gains for
Japan are projected to be in the neighborhood of $140 billion by
2025.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li><li>For the United
States, the Peterson Institute estimates that real income benefits of TPP will
be close to $77 billion per year, and by 2025, a concluded deal would generate
an additional $123.5 billion in U.S. exports.</li></ul>
<p>But
in focusing on the economic benefits, we must not overlook the fact that trade
policy and foreign policy are inextricably linked. And it is difficult to
overstate the strategic importance of countries with 40 percent of global GDP
declaring – with one voice – that the rules of doing business in the 21st
century are changing for the better and will reflect the emerging economic
issues that we all face.&nbsp; </p>
<p>In
this effort, we can declare a shared vision on a range of important issues,
including protecting intellectual property, dealing with the role of
state-owned enterprises in our economies, and promoting digital trade.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Let’s
be clear: if we do not set the rules of the road on these issues, our
competitors surely will. The stakes for the work before us have never
been clearer – and we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>We
are now in the final stages of the negotiation, which is a challenging time for
any negotiation – let alone a negotiation involving 12 parties and issues of
deep economic and social importance.&nbsp; </p>
<p>We
have an enormous opportunity before us to conclude a high-standard deal that
sets the rules for years to come and adds momentum and energy to the global
trading system at a critical moment in history.</p>
<p>Change
is never easy, and we know what our shared future should look like. It should
include more trade missions like this one. It should include new partnerships
and joint ventures. It should mean new market access for our companies and
workers. And it should mean greater prosperity for our citizens and deeper
ties between allies.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The
time is now to resolve outstanding issues and reach an ambitious pact that
advances our shared vision of more trade, more commerce, and more cooperation
throughout the Asia-Pacific.</p>
<p>The
Trans Pacific Partnership is the next chapter in a story of economic
partnership that began over 150 years ago and continues today – all part of the
effort to draw our countries closer together.</p>
<p>To
echo what President Obama said here in Tokyo five years ago, there must be no
question: the United States is a Pacific nation. And through our partnership
with Japan, through our cooperation with the nations of the Asia-Pacific
region, we will continue to strengthen and sustain our leadership in this
vitally important part of the world. </p>
<p>With
the help of our private sector leaders, with the commitment of our political
leaders, we will keep both the United States and Japan open for business – and
open for more business with each other.</p>
<p>Thank
you all for your work to reaffirm our strong commercial bonds and for doing
your part to deepen those ties each and every day. </p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; ###</p>Secretary SpeechesAmCham JapanJapanTrade missionOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerTue, 21 Oct 2014 16:10:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov17115 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Delivers Remarks at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers Meeting in Los Angeleshttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/10/13/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-delivers-remarks-internet-co
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Monday, October 13, 2014<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong></span></p><div>Thank you, Steve Crocker, for your introduction and for your leadership as the Chairman of ICANN. I also want to thank you, Fadi Chehade, and the entire Board of ICANN for bringing together so many leaders in the global internet community and for taking the lead in advancing the multistakeholder process. And I want to acknowledge Assistant Secretary Larry Strickling and our entire team at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for their daily work on Internet policy issues, domain name system issues, and protecting the Internet as an engine for innovation and prosperity.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>We come together at a time when Internet governance is as important as ever. The fact is that we must do everything we can to protect and preserve this revolutionary platform that is the essential connector of people, economies, and communities across the planet. I do not have to tell anyone in this room that more people are working, shopping, interacting, and learning online than ever before – all because of the work so many of you have done throughout the years to build and strengthen this system.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>I hope all of you will read my friend Walter Isaacson’s wonderful new book,&nbsp;The Innovators.&nbsp; In it, Walter says that collaborative creativity is what drives technological advancement -- and I quote -- that “innovation comes from teams more often than from the light bulb moments of lone genius.” Walter is absolutely right. Of course, we owe much to those light bulb moments, but innovators are by nature collaborators. That is, no one person alone can turn a cutting-edge discovery into a world changing product or a service without a team. History makes that clear: it is that same collaboration that has enabled the Internet to become what it is today. Facilitated initially by U.S. government investment through DARPA, the Internet as we now know it was built off of one inventive leap on top of another -- And through the amazing genius ranging from Vint Cerf to Bob Kahn to Steve Crocker to Tim Berners Lee to Marc Andreessen to so many others. Their work has given us the most dynamic&nbsp;communications and connective platform that the world has ever seen.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Internet indeed improves quality of life for millions and enables people from all over the globe to achieve greater economic opportunity. Without the Internet, a teenager from a remote village in southern India would not have been able to create his own business.&nbsp; Abin Jose Tom was 19 years old when he was given a school assignment to create a website. Five years later, Abin’s project is now a global web solutions and design company named Webandcrafts, with more than 550 clients worldwide. We live in an era when all an entrepreneur needs to start, build, and promote a business is a mobile device and a Wi-Fi connection. Put simply, the Internet is a fundamental gateway to new growth for developing nations and continued prosperity for developed nations.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Internet is also a vital platform for free expression and the exchange of ideas.&nbsp; And that is why I stand before you today to make this fundamental promise: the United States will protect and preserve a free, vibrant and open Internet.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At the Department of Commerce, we are proud to call ourselves America’s innovation and data agency. As someone who comes from the private sector and started five companies, I know first-hand the essential role the Internet plays in making sure businesses are able to compete globally. I have the privilege of being President Obama’s point person on entrepreneurship.&nbsp; In leading our Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship, I get to work with some of America’s most successful CEOs to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs at home and abroad. In my 15 months as Secretary, I have visited more than 20 countries.&nbsp; And everywhere we travel—from Ghana to the Philippines—the innovators we meet make clear that the web is a critical tool needed for success. That is why we must all work together to protect the Internet, and to keep it open and free. Our global economy and the young entrepreneurs of the world are counting on us.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Indeed, the Internet has become a fixture of modern life, not just in the United States and the West, but in big cities, rural villages, and small towns across the globe. Consider the transformations of recent years:</div><div><ul><li>Twenty years ago, there were 16 million Internet users. Today, that number is over 2.5 billion.</li><li>In 2008, roughly 1.5 billion devices were connected to the Internet. Today, there are an estimated 7.5 billion. By 2018, experts predict that figure to exceed 18 billion.</li><li>And the people largely driving this growth are living in developing countries, where the number of households with Internet access has more than doubled in the past five years.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>All of this means that we are at a critical moment for ICANN and the important work you do. This means that how we govern and use the Internet is of global importance. This means that consensus decisions related to the Internet domain name system made today in Los Angeles can shape lives and livelihoods in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere not just today but long into the future.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>All of us are stakeholders in a strong and vibrant, global Internet. The Internet has thrived precisely because citizens around the world have a voice in how the Internet is governed. That is why we -- the United States government -- support multistakeholder processes. This is our bedrock principle for Internet governance. Let me be clear about this. The United States will not allow the global Internet to be coopted by any person, entity, or nation seeking to substitute their parochial worldview for the collective wisdom of this community – you, the community of stakeholders represented so well here today.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As such, that is why six months ago NTIA announced the decision to transition its stewardship role over the Internet Domain Name System to the global multistakeholder communities. From the inception of ICANN in 1998, the United States government envisioned that its role with respect to the IANA functions would be temporary. Over the years, many stakeholders took comfort in the fact that the United States provided some level of stewardship over ICANN. I have been encouraged by the way the global community and ICANN have stepped up to develop the transition proposal. We rally our allies and will continue to build international coalitions to support multistakeholder governance of the Internet. And we are strong supporters of an ICANN that is committed to the idea of individual voices coming to consensus decisions.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>We must all recognize, however, that this was not inevitable, and we should not take it for granted. We all know that multistakeholder governance, and institutions like ICANN, are under intense and unprecedented pressure and scrutiny. Yet we are confident that the multistakeholder model offers the greatest assurance that the Internet will continue to thrive. And we must work together to ensure that the Internet remains an engine for economic growth, innovation, and free expression. We must continue to work hard to sustain multistakeholder governance, because it has enemies who want to reduce Internet governance to a meeting of governmental technocrats promoting narrow national interests.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>We must make clear this approach is the best tool to secure the openness and the vibrancy of the Internet. We must ensure that ICANN can build on its efforts to strengthen the multistakeholder process and can become directly accountable to the customers of the IANA functions and to the broader Internet community.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Next week, at the International Telecommunication Union Conference in Korea, we will see proposals to put governments in charge of Internet governance. You can rest assured that the United States will oppose these efforts at every turn.&nbsp;We know that those interested in government control tend to be countries that censor content and stifle the free flow of information. We will be clear that these steps are contrary to our belief in the value of free speech – whether on the Internet, in society, in the public sphere – both here at home and abroad. We will remind all players – in each instance – that the multistakeholder model will preserve and protect a strong and resilient Internet.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In closing, the world is watching ICANN, and some are waiting for us to fail. But we cannot – and must not – let that happen. We have to get this transition right. Make no mistake: I stand by ICANN. I am “all in” when it comes to the global debate over Internet governance.&nbsp; And we will preserve and protect a free and open internet. From the birth of the Internet through the present day, this community has stood together on the cutting edge of the drive to extend access to and the reach of the Internet – a key path for growth and success in the 21<sup>st</sup>&nbsp;century. And in every forum, the United States will remain a steadfast champion of the Internet, working to ensure that it remains an open platform for economic opportunity, innovation, and free expression.</div><div><br />But moving forward, all of us need to step up – like my friend Walter likes to say:</div><div><ul><li>We must collaborate to protect and expand the global Internet;</li><li>We must collaborate to ensure that the Internet continues to flourish;</li><li>And we must collaborate to guarantee that the Internet remains a gateway to prosperity and free expression the world over..&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>Thank you all for gathering together today and every day to advance our shared vision of a more open, more free, and more accessible Internet.</div>Secretary SpeechesIANAICANNInternational Telecommunications UnionINTERNET CORPORATION FOR ASSIGNED NAMES AND NUMBERSITULarry StricklingPAGEPresidential Ambassadors for Global EntrepreneurshipNational Telecommunications and Information AdministrationSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerMon, 13 Oct 2014 17:20:03 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17083 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Delivers Remarks at AmCham Turkey/ABFT 10th Anniversary Galahttp://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/09/30/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-delivers-remarks-amcham-turk
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY</strong><br />Tuesday, September 30, 2014<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p>Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker delivered remarks at the AmCham Turkey/ABFT 10<sup>th</sup>
Anniversary gala. In her remarks, Secretary Pritzker addressed&nbsp;the need
to enhance bilateral trade and &nbsp;investment opportunities between Turkey
and the U.S.
Secretary Pritzker is in Istanbul,
Turkey with a delegation of some of America's top CEOs who are members
of the President's Export Council.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Remarks As Prepared for Delivery</strong></span></p><p>I
want to thank Serra Hanim and the American Business Forum in Turkey for hosting our delegation tonight.</p>
<p>This
organization serves an incredibly important function.&nbsp; It connects businesses to potential partners
here in Istanbul and across Turkey. Quite literally, it is helping to build
bridges between our countries.</p>
<p>You
serve as an invaluable source of knowledge, insight, and guidance to businesses
in this country, and I want to congratulate ABFT and its more than 100 member
companies on celebrating your 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary.</p><p>For decades, the United States and Turkey have sustained
deep strategic and diplomatic ties, which is the foundation of our
relationship.
</p><p>Of
course, those ties are as important today as ever.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Our
leaders have a shared ambition of elevating our commercial and economic relationship
to that same level.&nbsp; </p>
<p>For
the last 10 years, ABFT has been – and must continue to be – at the heart of
that effort.&nbsp; </p>
<p>In
fact, recently a number of iconic American companies that are members of ABFT
have made long-term commitments in Turkey:</p>
<ul><li>Intel
opened an R&amp;D center in Istanbul, bringing a new approach to high-tech
development to the country, collaborating with industry, universities, and
public institutions on education technologies.</li><li>In May, Ford announced the establishment of its third manufacturing plant
in Turkey, bringing the company’s production capacity here to 415,000 vehicles.</li><li>And last fall, General Electric announced plans to invest $515 million in Turkish
locomotive production and energy projects providing turbines and new power
generators. </li></ul>
<p>These
terrific American companies are creating local jobs, bringing innovation to the
local economy, manufacturing products for local customers, and demonstrating
what is possible in the local market.</p>
<p>As
someone who spent 27 years in the private sector, I can tell you that these firms
would not make such commitments unless they believed that the conditions are
right; the market presents opportunities; and the long-term prospects for the
country are positive.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Put
differently, Turkey is a market on the rise and U.S. businesses want to invest
in your communities and build lasting partnerships here. </p>
<p>Thankfully,
our business communities do not have to go it alone.&nbsp; Both governments want the same thing – deeper
ties.&nbsp; </p>
<p>In
2009, then-Prime Minister Erdogan and President Obama declared their mutual commitment
to elevate our bilateral economic ties when they announced the formation of the
Framework for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation -- which we call the
FSECC.&nbsp; </p>
<p>I
am proud to co-chair the FSECC for the U.S. side and am committed to working
closely with Deputy Prime Minister Babacan and Minister of Economy Zeybecki to deepen our economic ties. </p>
<p>Since
the dialogue’s first meeting, Turkey has been asking for the Department of Commerce
to lead a delegation of U.S. CEOs here. </p>
<p>And
I am incredibly proud – on my first trip to Turkey as secretary -- to be joined
tonight by members of the President’s Export Council as well as our new
Department of Commerce Undersecretary for the International Trade
Administration Stefan Selig.&nbsp; </p>
<p>And
I want to recognize all of the members of the PEC who are here with us tonight:</p>
<ul><li>Ursula Burns,
Chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation and Vice Chair of the PEC;</li><li>David Abney, CEO of
UPS;</li><li>Mary Andringa,
President and CEO, Vermeer Corporation;</li><li>Dick Friedman,
President and CEO, Carpenter &amp; Company;</li><li>Marillyn
Hewson, Chairman, President, and
CEO, Lockheed Martin;</li><li>Arne Sorenson,
President and CEO, Marriott International;</li><li>Patricia Woertz,
Chairman and CEO, Archer Daniels Midland; and, </li><li>Robert Wolf, CEO,
32 Advisors. </li></ul>
<p>Each
of these CEOs is committed – as I am – to strengthening the trade and
investment bonds between our nations.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The fact is we have
seen signs of progress in recent years:</p>
<ul><li>Between 2011 and 2013, bilateral trade
hit record levels, reaching nearly $20 billion per year;</li><li>Turkey recorded its highest-ever level
of exports to the United States in 2013 -- with exports totaling $6.7 billion;
and,</li><li>We are moving toward a more balanced
trade relationship. </li></ul><p>There
are many parties who share responsibility for our joint progress, but I am
pleased to say that the Department of Commerce has played a lead role in
it.&nbsp;
</p><ul><li>Our Global Markets team facilitated over
$100 million worth of export successes in 2013, benefiting American firms,
their Turkish partners and Turkish consumers. </li><li>Over the past three years, Global
Markets has also organized three trade
missions to Turkey, focused on aerospace and defense, renewable energy and
medical technologies. </li></ul>
<p>These
steps are a start – and they are important – but if we are serious about elevating
the economic dimension of this relationship, we must be honest with each other
that we are not where we need to be. </p>
<p>With
a nation as large and dynamic as Turkey, with Turkey now a member of the G20,
with a new class of Turkish entrepreneurs on the rise, there is real room for significant improvement in our bilateral
trade.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Clearly,
American businesses see great opportunities here, but they still suffer from a
lack of access to Turkish markets. </p>
<p>Too
often, U.S. companies come to the Department of Commerce with concerns about a
wide variety of barriers to entry.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Tonight
I would like to note three particular areas that currently present challenges
to U.S. companies yet are ripe for change.&nbsp;
&nbsp;</p>
<p>These
include:</p>
<ul><li>Greater transparency in government
procurement;</li><li>Commercial offsets; and,</li><li>Hurdles in obtaining Good Manufacturing
Practices certification. </li></ul>
<p>We
are working to address these barriers through the FSECC and other bilateral
mechanisms, but the message I want to make clear tonight is that the conditions
we aspire to create are not just for the benefit of American businesses.&nbsp; </p>
<p>As
Turkey opens its markets to more trade, greater competition and increased transparency,
Turkish businesses and the Turkish people will enjoy the benefits.</p>
<p>Further,
choosing this path will strengthen Turkey’s position as a crossroads between west
and east, as a hub for commerce among nations. </p>
<p>First,
let me talk about the challenge of needing more transparency in government procurement. </p>
<p>In
the coming years, many Turkish development and infrastructure projects in
aerospace and transportation will be publicly tendered. </p>
<p>Foreign
companies want to bid on these contracts – and many bring critical expertise to
the table – but they historically have endured a series of burdensome and
unfair requirements just to be considered in the process. The unfortunate
result is that qualified and committed companies that want to invest and create
jobs here, do not participate in the tenders nor even enter the market. </p>
<p>This
is not a new issue for our bilateral discussions. </p>
<p>The
Turkish government should act now to adopt rules that promote non-discrimination, fair competition, and transparency in
government procurement.</p>
<p>The second issue I want to touch on
is commercial offsets.</p>
<p>Recently,
Turkey began requiring commercial offsets in the health care, medical devices,
and commercial aircraft sectors. </p>
<p>This
policy, which forces companies to produce locally is an impediment to American and foreign firms in their
efforts to access the Turkish market.</p>
<p>I
appreciate the importance of creating jobs in local markets and the desire to
have foreign companies make long-term investments. But this approach is both
onerous and can be counterproductive to attracting foreign direct investment. </p>
<p>We strongly urge the Turkish
government not to move forward with this policy or to make significant
alterations to it. </p>
<p>Third,
for years, our businesses have been facing hurdles in their effort to obtain a Good Manufacturing Practices certification.</p>
<p>Currently, U.S. firms with pharmaceutical manufacturing
plants in country need to have their facilities inspected by Turkish authorities
before receiving certification and the authority to market their products.</p>
<p>But the Turkish Ministry of Health – the certifying body --
does not have the capacity to conduct these inspections in a timely manner.
This often leaves companies that have already made an investment in Turkey stranded
in a holding pattern -- and [PAUSE]
-- with restricted access to Turkish consumers.</p>
<p>At
the most recent FSECC meeting in May, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister pledged to
simplify and expedite this process. </p>
<p>We
have been waiting to see progress in this area for a long time. </p>
<p>It
has now been 5 years since our leaders announced that we would elevate our
commercial relationship. </p>
<p>Frankly,
the time is now to hit the accelerator.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>If
we are serious about increasing bilateral trade and investment, we must address
these and other market challenges. </p>
<p>And
if Turkey is to achieve its “10 by 23” goal, these are critical issues – and
not just for U.S. businesses. </p>
<p>The
foundation for deeper economic cooperation between our countries already exists
– but we need to seize the moment. </p>
<p>We
must exhibit the political will necessary to achieve the shared vision of
Presidents Erdogan and Obama.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>In
this endeavor, I know the members of the President’s
Export Council here tonight can help. </p>
<p>These
talented, dedicated leaders have taken time away from their day jobs – running
some of America’s finest companies – to serve as commercial ambassadors for our
nation. &nbsp;</p>
<p>For
that I am grateful.</p>
<p>We
will not reach our potential without the help and input of the business
communities in our countries. </p>
<p>Fortunately,
business leaders on both sides—from the PEC to the U.S.-Turkish Business
Council to the ABFT to many others—want to be part of the solution.&nbsp; </p>
<p>And
we need them.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>For
decades, from the Truman Doctrine to the commitments of Presidents Erdogan and
Obama, the United States and Turkey
have maintained a friendship and an alliance built on mutual interests and
mutual respect. </p>
<p>Today,
we have an opportunity to deepen our ties – not just through continued
strategic cooperation -- but also through our powerful connections of commerce.
</p>
<p>It
is our shared responsibility to seize this moment of opportunity.</p>
<p>It
is up to all of us – American and Turkish, in public life and in business, as
part of the President’s Export Council or part of ABFT – to decide how to grow
this relationship, advance our economic ties, and ensure that both the United
States and Turkey remain open for
business. </p>
<p>And open for business
with each other.</p>
<p>Thank
you very much.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p>Secretary SpeechesAmerican Business ForumFramework for Strategic Economic and Commercial CooperationPresident's Export CouncilInternational Trade AdministrationSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerTue, 30 Sep 2014 16:49:13 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov17032 at http://www.commerce.gov